Province backing rural medicine with $6 million through student program

CALGARY (CityNews) – Medical students in Alberta could receive assistance paying for school if they agree to practise in rural areas after graduation.

The Government of Alberta is investing $6 million into the Return of Service Agreement program, which would hand out funds over three years to help students pay for medical school.

In return, students agree to complete their residency training and eventually start their careers in a rural Albertan community.

The program will be administered by the Rural Health Professions Action Plan, or RhPAP, with further details to be released at a later date.

In a release Saturday, Alberta’s Minister of Health Tyler Shandro says the province is pleased to see the new program get off the ground.

“Return of Service Agreements will give Albertans in rural and remote areas timelier access to a family doctor.

“With RhPAP’s decades of experience working in this area, they are perfect partners to manage this program.”

The president of the Alberta Medical Association and the president of the AMA’s Section of Rural Medicine also shared their satisfaction with the move.

“We are pleased that the government is taking steps to focus on the needs of rural health care.

“Involving medical students (and resident physicians) in both the planning and implementation of physician resource strategies will be essential.”

The province is planning to spend about $90 million to address rural physician recruitment and retention over the course of this year.

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