An estimated 200,000 Saskatchewan residents are without a regular family doctor, but they’ll soon have another option for primary care.

The provincial government has launched a pilot program that will allow 19 nurse practitioners to provide services covered by Medicare in several communities across the province.

“We’re really excited to see how nurse practitioners are playing a larger and larger role in primary care in Saskatchewan, making sure patients not only have access but are attached to a primary care provider,” said Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill.

The nurse practitioners will be based in multiple locations, including Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Wilkie, Carnduff and Estevan.

“It just allows for a better expansion of primary care access in all of those communities,” said Michelle O’Keefe, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners.

The first nurse practitioner clinic has already opened in Regina. Patients can expect services similar to those offered by a family doctor.

“We’ll be providing comprehensive assessments, diagnoses, and ordering labs or imaging. Anything they can get from a primary care physician, we can also provide,” said nurse practitioner Hanna Latina.

The NDP Opposition supports the move.

“Nurse practitioners have a very important role in team-based care. We need to be looking at utilizing them more,” said NDP MLA Meara Conway.

The government says the pilot is expected to expand as demand grows.