UCalgary Research Highlights Challenges in Alberta’s Physician Shortage

Research from the University of Calgary has unveiled significant challenges in addressing the province’s physician shortage, particularly in family medicine. Dr. Braden Manns, a professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, analyzed 16 years of health data, revealing critical insights into the factors contributing to the scarcity of healthcare professionals in Alberta.

Dr. Manns noted that while Alberta has been aware of a shortage of various physician types, including anesthetists and family doctors, the complexity behind this issue was not fully understood. “We knew that we had shortages of different types of physicians, but we didn’t fully understand why we were seeing such a shortage of family physicians,” he explained.

Findings on Family Physicians

The study, which examined anonymized health records, indicated that family physicians are increasingly managing more complex patient cases while working approximately 10 percent fewer days in their clinics. They are also seeing 10 to 15 percent fewer patients daily and are less likely to have received their training in Canada. Dr. Manns remarked, “Twenty years ago, about six percent of family physicians had been trained in a low-to-middle-income country; now it’s about 18 percent. So, we’ve seen a huge influx.”

According to Dr. Manns, the Canadian healthcare education system has struggled to train and retain physicians, contributing to the reliance on foreign-trained doctors. This issue reflects a broader challenge facing healthcare workers across the country. “Because of that, we’re recruiting them into the country,” he added.

The data also highlighted demographic trends, with an aging population in Alberta leading to an increase in chronic diseases, mental health issues, and substance use problems. In response, Dr. Manns suggested building stronger care teams that include nurses, dietitians, and social workers. However, implementing these solutions has proven challenging.

Educational Initiatives and Provincial Responses

Although the Cumming School of Medicine emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teams in its training, logistical barriers hinder widespread integration. Todd Anderson, Dean of the Cumming School of Medicine, noted, “We are a faculty of medicine, not a faculty of health sciences, and there’s a separate faculty of nursing and social work.” This separation limits the ability to implement comprehensive training across disciplines.

Despite these challenges, the university has developed a curriculum that addresses the complexities of patient cases. “We’re now in our third year of this. The curriculum for the medical students is being taught by primary care physicians, as opposed to sub specialists,” Anderson stated. This approach allows students to learn from role models in primary care from the outset.

As part of an initiative to enhance primary care training, some medical students will begin placements outside Calgary in July 2026. “We’re going to have 20 students do all of their training in Lethbridge and then in rural and regional areas,” Anderson explained. This strategy aims to root students in their communities, increasing the likelihood that they will remain in Alberta after graduation.

Anderson acknowledged the limitations of the medical school’s influence on broader healthcare issues. “We’re never going to train enough physicians to meet the needs,” he said, emphasizing that systemic changes are necessary to attract family doctors to the province.

On the provincial level, the Government of Alberta has launched the Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM) to improve the practice environment for family physicians. Introduced in spring 2025, this model offers an alternative compensation structure, moving away from the traditional fee-for-service approach. According to the government’s website, the PCPCM aims to make Alberta one of the best places to practice medicine in Canada while increasing access to family physicians.

The PCPCM combines elements of both the traditional fee-for-service model and existing Clinical Alternative Relationship Plans (ARPs). Compensation under this model is based on various criteria: 40 percent on patient encounters, 40 percent on direct patient care and practice management, and 20 percent on complexity-adjusted panel payments. To qualify, physicians must maintain a panel size of at least 500 patients and complete 400 hours of service over 40 weeks.

As Alberta grapples with its physician shortage, the collaboration between educational institutions and government initiatives is critical. Both Dr. Manns and Dean Anderson agree that while solutions are being explored, systemic changes are necessary to ensure a robust healthcare system capable of meeting the needs of Alberta’s growing population.