Medical Benevolent Society
The Medical Benevolent Society is a registered charitable foundation established and directed jointly by the Saskatchewan Medical Association and the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The Medical Benevolent Society (MBS) provides short-term financial assistance to physicians, medical students, residents, and their families when unexpected hardship occurs. From illness and injury to sudden family crises, the MBS helps members of the medical community navigate difficult situations without long-term financial harm, ensuring support is available when it is needed most.
How we support colleagues
The MBS provides assistance in situations such as:
- Serious illness or injury resulting in loss of income
- Sudden personal emergencies, including displacement or family crises
- Unexpected medical or travel expenses
- Short-term financial hardship during transitions in training or practice
These situations arise every year. When they do, timely support can make all the difference.
The MBS relies on contributions from the medical community to ensure funds are available when requests arise. Demand for support continues each year, and maintaining a ready, responsive fund is essential to ensuring assistance can be provided without delay.
Your contribution helps ensure that when a colleague faces hardship, support is there.
Accessing Support
Saskatchewan physicians, medical students, surviving spouses, dependent children who are in financial need.
When and why was the society established?
On July 23, 1962, only a few hours after attending a meeting that paved the way for a settlement in the Medicare crisis, Drs. John Knox of Maple Creek and Robert Nixon of Estevan died in an airplane crash on their way home to their families.
The pair had conscientiously served their fellow doctors during the months of strain and anxiety which preceded the Saskatoon Agreement. The tragic accident saddened the whole province and the loss was deeply felt by members of the profession. Both doctors left behind wives and young children.
The Medical Benevolent Society was originally formed to provide financial support to the widows of Drs. Knox and Nixon, and to help pay for the future education of the children. When doctors throughout Saskatchewan and Canada were canvassed to make a donation to the Society, the response was overwhelming.
As time went by and these needs diminished, the Society increasingly turned its attention to assisting others in need both within and beyond the medical community.