REGINA — Saskatchewan is adding 20 medical school seats and 10 new residency positions as part of a broader effort to strengthen the province’s physician workforce.
The expansion includes a $4.3-million investment to add undergraduate medical education seats at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine beginning in 2026-27. Another $1.75 million will support additional residency positions.
The physician training enhancements are part of a $31.1-million funding increase from the ministries of Advanced Education and Health to support expansion initiatives within the College of Medicine.
The new seats will bring the total number of first-year undergraduate medical seats in Saskatchewan to 128. Twelve of the new seats will be located at the Regina campus and eight at the Saskatoon campus.
The government also says it will work with the college to target 95 per cent of admissions for Saskatchewan students.
“Our government recognizes the important role that post-secondary education plays in training the next generation of physicians,” Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. “We are proud to invest in these additional opportunities to ensure more Saskatchewan students can study and build their practices right here in the province.”
Ten new residency positions are also being added in both family medicine and specialty programs, including the launch of a new plastic surgery residency program. Residency positions provide hands-on clinical training following medical school graduation.
This year, the University of Saskatchewan has filled 162 first-year residency seats across the province beginning in July 2026.
“Expanding the number of medical school and residency training seats offered through the University of Saskatchewan is part of our government’s commitment to putting patients first and delivering on our ambitious Health Human Resources Action Plan,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “Through our continued investments in training, recruitment and retention, we are growing the number of doctors in our province to ensure patients receive the care they need in the right place, at the right time.”
The province says graduates of the College of Medicine can also access several incentives aimed at encouraging them to remain in Saskatchewan after graduation.
The Rural Physician Incentive Program offers up to $200,000 to doctors who practise in rural and remote areas, while additional incentives are available for specialists entering high-demand fields. The Graduate Retention Program also provides up to $24,000 in tax credits for post-secondary graduates who stay and work in Saskatchewan.
“For more than a century, the University of Saskatchewan has been a partner in serving the evolving needs of the province,” University of Saskatchewan president Vince Bruni-Bossio said. “We are grateful for the government’s investment that will enable us to expand the number of medical seats and help deliver on the promise to serve the people of our province. Together, we are strengthening the health-care system by improving patient access to timely, high-quality care and delivering impact for communities across our province.”
Medical student Haley Scheck, who is originally from rural Saskatchewan and currently training in Swift Current, said expanding medical education opportunities within the province could help recruitment and retention efforts, particularly in rural communities.
“The expansion of opportunities for medical students to train in Saskatchewan is really exciting,” Scheck said. “I am originally from rural Saskatchewan and have spent the past year of my training in Swift Current. This experience has allowed me to be part of incredible learning experiences and see the wide breadth of knowledge and skill that rural training provides. The data tells us that physicians are much more likely to build a career and practise where they train, so it's a great opportunity to improve recruitment and retention in rural Saskatchewan. My experiences in Swift Current so far have been really influential in helping me decide where I want to complete my residency and practise one day.”
In 2026-27, the Government of Saskatchewan is providing approximately $225 million to the College of Medicine to support operations, ongoing program expansions and new domestic programs.
“As the College of Medicine for Saskatchewan, we are committed to providing high-quality education that strengthens our health-care system,” College of Medicine dean Dr. Sarah Forgie said. “With the support from the Government of Saskatchewan, we will continue to support our learners by growing our training capacity, launching new programs, and expanding where our learners train to best serve the people of Saskatchewan.”
For more information on the Undergraduate Medical Education program, visit the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine website
