Today, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced $5.4 million in new funding for the Virtual Health Hub (VHH) alongside Chief Darcy Bear and Virtual Health Hub CEO Dr. Ivar Mendez in Whitecap Dakota Nation.
The investment will support the VHH's 2026-2027 operating budget and is in addition to the over $28.2 million Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has already invested toward the construction of the future facility located in Whitecap Dakota Nation, which is expected to open in early 2027.
The VHH is creating a new way to deliver health care to northern and remote communities. From a state-of-the-art command centre in Whitecap Dakota Nation, health professionals will use telehealth, artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging technologies to connect patients with high-quality care without requiring long-distance travel.
The model is designed to help overcome some of the barriers that have made accessing health care difficult for people living in northern and remote communities. It will connect patients with health professionals in real time and bring more services directly into communities.
Once fully operational, the VHH will support 80 jobs and have the capacity to serve 30 communities. By 2029, its reach is expected to expand to as many as 90 northern and remote communities.
The VHH will also help build health-care capacity for the future. Through partnerships with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and the University of Saskatchewan, it will support training opportunities for Indigenous students and health professionals, helping more people develop the skills to deliver care in their own communities.
The Virtual Health Hub is a First Nations-led model that brings together health care, technology, training and community leadership to improve access to care.
