‘Things are getting worse’: Saskatchewan ranked most difficult province for accessing a family doctor

A recent poll conducted by Angus Reid has deemed Saskatchewan as the most difficult province to access a family doctor in Canada. Hallee Mandryk reports.

A recent poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute has deemed Saskatchewan as the province where residents have the most difficult time accessing a family doctor.

While the numbers across the country were close - with 50 per cent of Canadians reported difficult or no access to a family doctor - Saskatchewan saw the highest number of residents who reported challenges when it comes to accessing a family doctor.

Twenty-two per cent of those in Saskatchewan reported not having a family doctor. This is in addition to the 41 per cent of residents who reported having difficulty accessing their own doctor. This total of 63 per cent means that Saskatchewan has the highest level of difficulty for folks seeking a family physician.

Those in Saskatoon who stopped to speak with CTV News shared that they are very familiar with the frustrations that come along with seeking a family doctor.

“We do have a family doctor...just recently, about a year and a half but prior to that, we were without a doctor for about a year....it was a stroke of luck that we did get into this family doctor, the process was excruciating and very discouraging,” one woman told CTV News.

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One man shared that how while he has a family doctor, his parents - who also live in Saskatoon - have spent a significant amount of time searching for one.

“For a few years now...for my mom in particular...because she hasn’t had a family doctor in so long, just going to different folks, having to keep re-explaining things has always been tough and I think she neglects some of her health because of it,” the man told CTV News.

NDP MLA Meara Conway addressed media on Thursday morning, questioning the province’s promise to ensure all Saskatchewan residents have access to a primary health-care provider by the end of 2028.

“We see different things being tried in different jurisdictions. Innovation attempts to change to alternative compensation models. There is nothing happening here, and we have a government that is committed to getting everyone access to a family doctor by 2028, and yet we are moving in the opposite direction. Things are getting worse,” Conway said.

Conway told media that the NDP is in consultation with stakeholders regarding detailed solutions which will be released in the coming months.

“We’ve been getting a lot of feedback, and I can tell you that the solutions are plentiful.... We’re not in a position to unveil those today, but we are excited to do that in the coming months, and it will happen,” Conway said.

In a statement to CTV News, the Ministry of Health reaffirmed that promise for 2028 and highlighted the current efforts in place to reach that goal.

Saskatchewan has one of the best physician compensation rates in the country, including special incentives for doctors in rural practice.

The number of licensed physicians in Saskatchewan increased 80 per cent between 2007 and 2025 – an increase of 1,400 doctors. This is a 62 per cent increase in general practitioners and a 103 per cent increase in specialists.

Saskatchewan is training more doctors at home; eight additional undergraduate seats have been added for medical students at the University of Saskatchewan, bringing the total medical student seats to 108.