For physicians across southwest Saskatchewan, an opportunity to have their concerns heard rolled into town earlier this week.

As part of a tour across the province, Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) President, Allan Woo, stopped in Swift Current to meet with members of the organization.

Woo said the yearly tour was a way to stay connected with the needs of physician members.

"Conversations are always around things like efficient health and wellness, manpower planning, the relationship with physicians and the [Saskatchewan] Health Authority," he said. "Current issues are things like contract negotiations, which we are hoping to conclude soon, and also provincial bylaws which are the relationship between physicians and the [Saskatchewan] Health Authority."

The SMA has around 2,400 physician members.

Woo said that since the amalgamations of the province's health districts to form the Saskatchewan Health Authority, communication in the forms of the tours became a useful resource to know their member base's concerns.

"It's vital. There's nothing like talking in person, seeing them one to one. You lose a lot by email communication or trying to do surveys, it's always important to hear straight from their voices what's important."

The lobbying organization talks to the government and the Saskatchewan Health Authority to help accommodate the needs of physicians.

"Physicians just want to do what's best for their patients," Woo said. "We want to give them the tools and the ability to do that. The SMA is behind physicians. We're there to support them."

In the past, the SMA was consulted during the creation of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and advocated for the physician leadership structure that is now in place.