Sask. quadruples cash incentive to get doctors to rural and remote communities

For years, the Saskatchewan government has been trying to attract physicians to rural and remote communities in the province.

Now, it’s upping the ante.

On Wednesday, Premier Scott Moe announced incentives through the Rural Physician Incentive Program (RPIP) will increase to $200,000 over five years from their current level of $47,000 over four years.

The government hopes the increase, which is to take effect April 1, will help attract family physicians to rural and northern communities across Saskatchewan and keep them there.

“Saskatchewan is once again leading the nation with ambitious solutions to addressing the health human resource challenges that Saskatchewan, Canada, and the rest of the world are facing,” Moe said in a media release.

“Our government recognizes the challenge of attracting doctors to rural and remote areas of the province, and this increased incentive will enhance our ability to attract more rural physicians and meet that challenge.”

In addition to offering more money and lengthening the term of the program, the government also is expanding eligibility.

Instead of just new graduates, incentives now will be offered to physicians practising in rural and northern communities who have been assessed through the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment Program.

The program was launched in 2013-14 to encourage recent medical school graduates to set up practices in rural and remote communities.

More information on the program can be found here.