The Alberta government is investing $22 million in new rural health programs to help people get care close to home.
The funding includes $16 million for a bursary pilot to support medical residents and $6 million for team-based care in rural clinics.
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“This is a great example of how we’re delivering real improvements in primary health care,” said Adriana LaGrange, minister of primary and preventative health services.
“Our bursary program will help bring more family doctors to rural communities and the team-based care grants mean Albertans will have better access to health professionals who can support their needs.”
The Rural and Remote Family Medicine Resident Physician Bursary provides $125,000 to medicine residents training in rural areas. Those in remote locations can get up to $200,000. The bursaries are open to students from any Canadian university that match Alberta programs.
The province will accept applications up to early 2026 or until funding runs out. Officials expect 74 family medicine residents to begin practice in rural Alberta by July 2027.
According to Dr. Sia Zare-Zadeh of the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta, the support helps long-term retention.
“Resident physicians are the future of our physician workforce,” she said. “Fair and competitive retention initiatives will ensure all Albertans have access to high-quality health care.”
The province is also launching the Rural Team Recruitment Grant to help clinics hire nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other staff.
In the first round, 29 clinics will receive funding in towns including Cold Lake, Crowsnest Pass, Delburne, Barrhead and Grande Cache.
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