More primary care on the way for rural Alberta
July 21, 2025 Media inquiries
Rural Albertans will soon have better access to doctors and care teams as 74 medical residents begin providing care and dozens of clinics expand their staff.
Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans receive the care they need when and where they need it. To strengthen rural health care, grants under two programs have been awarded. These grants support medical resident physicians training in rural and remote communities and help primary care clinics across rural Alberta grow their teams.
The initiatives include a $16-million pilot bursary program that supports 74 family medicine residents expected to begin practising in rural Alberta between now and July 2027. At the same time, the Rural Team Recruitment Grant will provide $6 million over two years to help clinics hire additional health professionals – such as nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists – expand care teams and improve access.
“This is a great example of how we’re delivering real improvements in primary health care. 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. Physicians are choosing to practise in Alberta in record numbers, especially family doctors, and we’re working to make sure they increase access for patients in rural Alberta as well as in the cities.”Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services
The Rural Team Recruitment Grant helps clinics and community organizations increase their capacity by hiring non-physician health professionals. These multidisciplinary teams significantly improve access to primary care by ensuring a range of health services are available locally.
In the first round of funding, 29 clinics across the province will receive support. This includes clinics in Consort, Drumheller, Stettler, Crowsnest Pass, Cold Lake, Grande Cache, Peace River, Delburne, Drayton Valley, Barrhead and Bashaw. Approximately 52 new full-time health professionals are expected to be hired, with a second intake for the grant program opening soon.
“The Rural Team Recruitment Grant is a meaningful step forward for health care in rural Alberta. When clinics can hire more team members, people get access to the care they need faster and closer to home.”Ron Wiebe, parliamentary secretary for rural health (north)
The Rural and Remote Family Medicine Resident Physician Bursary Pilot Program is helping attract and retain doctors in Alberta’s rural and remote communities. It provides bursaries of $125,000 for rural placements and $200,000 for remote placements to residents who commit to working in eligible communities after completing their training.
Bursaries are available to medical students from any Canadian university who have matched to a family medicine residency program at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary. Residents can apply at any point during their training. Applications are being accepted until early 2026 or until all funding is committed.
Resident physicians are more likely to stay and practise in the communities where they complete their residency, making this program a key step toward building sustainable, long-term access to primary care in rural and remote areas.
“This bursary is an investment in Alberta’s future. It gives resident physicians the support they need while helping rural and remote communities attract and keep family doctors.”Justin Wright, parliamentary secretary for rural health (south)
“This bursary is a significant step in strengthening retention in rural and remote family medicine practice. Resident physicians are the future of our physician workforce; fair and competitive retention initiatives will ensure all Albertans have access to the high-quality health care they deserve.”Dr. Sia Zare-Zadeh, president, Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA)
Quick facts
- These programs are key components of the Rural Health Action Plan and align with the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Care System (MAPS) report.
- Funding is through the Canada-Alberta agreement to improve health care, including in rural and remote areas.
Related information
- Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System (MAPS)
- Primary health care grants
- Rural and Remote Family Medicine Resident Physician Bursary
- Rural Health Action Plan
Related news
- Strengthening primary health care across Alberta (Nov. 5, 2024)
- Leading primary care into the future (Oct. 15, 2024)
- Improving health care in rural and remote Alberta (Oct. 3, 2024
- Strengthening health care: Improving access for all (Oct. 18, 2023)
Media inquiries
Maddison McKee
780-220-4874
Press Secretary, Primary and Preventative Health Services