The Saskatoon Health region and Government of Saskatchewan have announced two new physicians are now practicing in the Humboldt area.

In Humboldt, Dr. Punashish Kaur Bhatia is seeing patients, while in Lanigan, Dr. Joseph Akinjobi is taking appointments.

Both doctors are recent graduates of the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment program. The program was put in place by the government to assess international medical graduates who wish to practice in Saskatchewan.

"We value internationally trained physicians, and we welcome them and their families to our province," stated Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit. "SIPPA is one of many ways we're making sure Saskatchewan residents get better access to physician care."

Since the program began in 2011, over 190 new physicians have completed their assessment and are practicing in the province.

Ottenbreit added that since the Saskatchewan Party took government in 2007, there are now over 750 more physicians working in the province.