Anesthesiology Recruitment and Retention Incentive

The Anesthesiology Recruitment and Retention Incentive is available to specialist Anesthesiologists and Family Practice Anesthetists providing full time service in qualifying Saskatchewan communities.

Incentive Overview

The Anesthesiology Recruitment and Retention Incentive supports anesthesiologists and family practice anesthetists who provide full-time service in qualifying Saskatchewan communities. 

Eligible physicians may receive up to $200,000 over five years.

Program Conditions:

• Physicians must apply each year and meet all criteria to receive the incentive. 
• Payments are issued after each completed year of service.
• The incentive may only be received once in a lifetime.
• Program criteria may change at any time.

Eligibility Conditions:

• Eligibility is assessed annually. 
• To remain eligible, physicians must practise in the same community for five consecutive years
• Eligibility in one year does not guarantee eligibility in future years.
• Physicians providing locum services or who relocate within Saskatchewan do not qualify.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the incentive, specialist anesthesiologists and family practice anesthetist applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• be new to practice in Saskatchewan
• be a Member of Practitioner Staff with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in good standing 
• hold an active licence with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS)
• establish full-time practice on or after June 1, 2023, in an eligible community, including:
  • North Battleford, Yorkton, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Lloydminster, Saskatoon and Regina
• provide at least 220 days of anesthesiology service per year in the eligible community
• provide service during at least 10 of the previous 12 months of each year

Incentive Amount

Eligible anesthesiologists may qualify for up to $200,000 when practising in the communities of:

• Lloydminster 
• North Battleford
• Moose Jaw
• Prince Albert
• Regina
• Swift Current
• Yorkton

Payment Schedule:

• Year 1 – $40,000 after 12 months of practice
• Year 2 – $40,000 after 24 months of practice
• Year 3 – $20,000 after 36 months of practice
• Year 4 – $50,000 after 48 months of practice
• Year 5 – $50,000 after 60 months of practice

If practising in Saskatoon, eligible anesthesiologists may qualify for up to $100,000.

Payment Schedule:

Year 1 – $20,000 after 12 months of practice

Year 2 – $20,000 after 24 months of practice

Year 3 – $10,000 after 36 months of practice

Year 4 – $25,000 after 48 months of practice

Year 5 – $25,000 after 60 months of practice

How do I apply?

Please direct inquiries to physicianincentives@saskhealthauthority.ca.  

Adjudication

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) administers the program under the following considerations:

• The incentive period begins on the date the physician starts full-time practice in an eligible community. 
• Applications are adjudicated after 12 months of service have been completed (adjusted for any approved leaves).
• The eligibility date for each year of the incentive may be adjusted if the physician takes an approved leave from practice during the year (e.g., parental, health or training leaves). 
  • Other leaves resulting in a gap in practice are adjudicated on an individual basis by the SHA and the Ministry of Health.
• The incentive is not prorated if fewer than 220 days of service are completed in a 12-month period.
• Physicians must complete the full 12 months of each year of service to receive the incentive.
  • No payments will be made if fewer than 10 of the 12 months are considered complete.
• Payments are issued at the end of each completed service year if all eligibility criteria are met.

Questions?

For more information, contact:

Saskatchewan Health Authority
Provincial Practitioner Staff Affairs
physicianincentives@saskhealthauthority.ca