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Surgical Specialty Recruitment and Retention Incentive

Learn about the Surgical Specialty Recruitment and Retention Incentive in Saskatchewan, offering up to $200,000 for eligible physicians practising in select communities.

Incentive Overview

The Targeted Surgical Specialty Recruitment and Retention Incentive supports urologists and otolaryngologists providing full-time service in Regina in hospital, community-based or on-site settings. 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 Regina for five consecutive years.
  • Eligibility in one year does not guarantee eligibility in future years.
  • Physicians providing locum services or relocating within Saskatchewan are not eligible.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the incentive, urologists or otolaryngologists must meet all of the following criteria:

  • be new to practice in Saskatchewan.
  • be a Member of Practitioner Staff with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) in good standing
  • hold an active licence with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS)
  • establish full-time practice on or after July 1, 2025 in Regina.
  • provide at least 220 days of service
  • participate in required call coverage within applicable call rotas, if required
  • provide service in at least 10 of the previous 12 months of each service year.

Incentive Amount

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

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

How do I apply?

Submit a completed application form here.

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 Regina.
  • Applicants are assessed 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 would be adjudicated on an individual basis by SHA and the Ministry of Health.
  • The incentive is not pro-rated if fewer than 220 days of service are completed in the 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