Doctors Nova Scotia and the Province have successfully negotiated new, four-year physician and clinical academic funding agreements.
The contracts cover doctors’ compensation and benefits as well as funding for clinical and academic responsibilities. Ratification by Doctors Nova Scotia’s members was announced today, July 20.
“Physicians play an invaluable role in all aspects of our healthcare system. I’d like to thank Doctors Nova Scotia for their collaborative approach during negotiations that resulted in a fair and balanced contract for all parties,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “This is a good deal for our doctors and will be great for patients. One key aspect of the new agreements was including investments in improving access and attachment to primary care, which serves as the foundation for the healthcare system.”
The new agreements provide a new payment model option for family physicians that will increase their compensation based on the hours worked, the services they provide and the number of patients in their practices.
Family physicians compensated through fee for service will be eligible for a grant and will receive an annual payment based on their number of patients.
There is also funding in the agreement for family physicians to hire allied healthcare providers, such as physiotherapists and dietitians, in their offices.
Other investments through the agreements will help:
— improve access to regional specialty services and reduce the surgical wait list
— support training the next generation of physicians
— support physician recruitment and retention.
The new agreements will posted in the coming days at: https://doctorsns.com/contract-and-support/master-agreement
“A sincere thank you to Minister Thompson and the Province for open and collaborative talks at the negotiations table. The agreements offer meaningful improvements that will lead to better access to primary and specialty care for Nova Scotians and more satisfying professional and personal lives for some of Nova Scotia’s doctors. This is essential to our ability to recruit and retain much-needed physicians in Nova Scotia.”
– Dr. Colin Audain, President, Doctors Nova Scotia
Quick Facts:
— all parties had agreed to an interest-based bargaining approach, a first for physician negotiations in Nova Scotia
— the new agreements replace the 2019 Master Agreement and Clinical Academic Funding Plan (C/AFP) Agreement that began on April 1, 2019, and expired on March 31, 2023
— in the 2022-2023 departmental budget, physician services cost about $1.04 billion
— the new agreements will add about $177 million to the budget by the fourth year (2026-27)
Additional Resources:
Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/
Mandate letter of the Minister of Health and Wellness: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf
Source: Release