Twenty-five students are enrolled in the first ever respiratory program in the province located on the SaskPoly campus in Regina.

It is hoped having the training in Saskatchewan will encourage more graduates to remain in the province.

The provincial government invested over $8-million to develop and launch the Respiratory Therapy Advanced Diploma program. There were ten applicants for every available position.

The program is a three-year diploma, where students receive hands-on training in a lab setting. All students will do placements within the Saskatchewan health care system.

The province said in a news release that it invested over $8 million to develop and launch the Respiratory Therapy Advanced Diploma program. There was big demand for the 25 seats in the cohort, with Sask Polytechnic reporting 10 applicants for every spot available.