YORKTON — The Saskatchewan Health Authority board of directors has approved a $5.59-billion operating budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, marking a 5.05 per cent funding increase over the previous year.
Alongside the operating costs, the board authorized a $596.72-million capital expenditure strategy to upgrade provincial medical infrastructure.
According to health officials, the financial plan aims to bridge geographic gaps across the province while reinforcing the frontline medical workforce.
“The approval of the 2026-27 budget represents a significant investment toward the delivery of high-quality health care that is accessible to everyone in the province, regardless of where they live,” said SHA board chair Arlene Wiks. “We are also committed to supporting SHA physicians, clinicians and employees, ensuring they have the tools and resources to respond to the unique needs of every patient in the province.”
SHA chief executive officer Andrew Will echoed these goals, stating that backing medical teams to provide secure, universal treatment is the top priority.
“The 2026-27 operating budget enables us to allocate resources to advance SHA roadmap priorities that will benefit patients and communities in Saskatchewan, every day,” Will said. “This includes expanding access to primary care, acute care and continuing care; increasing surgical and diagnostic volumes; making mental health and addiction services more accessible across the province; and improving facilities and equipment.”
The funding, aligned with the provincial government's Patients First Health Care Plan, targets several critical expansions and service enhancements across major cities and rural hubs.
Saskatoon City Hospital will receive $24.2 million for a 109-bed acute care expansion, while Royal University Hospital will receive $14.6 million for more inpatient beds. Another $4.9 million is set aside for St. Paul’s Hospital inpatient capacity, and $9.9 million will go to the Saskatoon Urgent Care Centre.
In Regina, the Regina General Hospital neonatal ICU will see a $2.5-million boost, and $100 million is earmarked for specialized long-term care beds in the city.
To cut down wait times, $5.7 million will boost MRI, CT and PET CT scan numbers. Mental health and addictions programs will see an additional $9.4 million to scale up treatment spaces, supplemented by $1.4 million for a centralized intake system.
Substantial infrastructure cash is also heading out of the major cities, led by a $238.4-million investment into the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital. Long-term care projects in Grenfell and La Ronge will also receive $24.3 million and $22.1 million, respectively.
The financial roadmap further dedicates millions to refining clinical care pathways, building up continuing care and bolstering the provincial children’s subspecialty program to ensure standardized quality across all regions.
