Government is moving forward with a plan to address physician recruitment and retention in Nova Scotia.

Leo Glavine, Minister of Health and Wellness announced today, Jan. 20, the creation of the Physician Recruitment and Retention Action Team.

“Nova Scotians need to know they have access to a doctor to receive the care they need. For too long, this hasn’t been the case for many Nova Scotians,” said Mr. Glavine. “The Physician Recruitment and Retention Action Team will provide insight into how to improve our ability to attract and keep doctors in Nova Scotia, especially in rural areas.”

The action team will provide advice and recommendations on how to improve programs and strategies for the recruitment and retention of physicians in the province. An immediate priority will be to develop a tuition relief program for medical graduates. Government will also continue to grow its collaborative care teams across the province as a way to address health care needs of Nova Scotians.

The action team will include:
— Dr. Celina White, chair
— Dr. Mahmood Naqvi, Doctors Nova Scotia
— Dr. Bill Lowe, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
— Dr. Tony Armson, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre
— Dr. Rex Dunn, vice president, medicine, Cape Breton District Health Authority
— Shirley Watson-Poole, District Health Authorities, recruiting
— Shirley Symes, District Health Authorities, recruiting
— Bob Taylor, Mayor of Colchester
— Janet Newton, public member
— Dr. David Gass, Department of Health and Wellness
— Lynda Campbell, Department of Health and Wellness

“As a rural community physician, I have been concerned for quite some time about the lack of access to doctors in the province, particularly in rural Nova Scotia,” said Dr. White. “I welcome the opportunity to chair this action team, and to help provide solutions.”

The Physician Recruitment and Retention Action Team is expected to submit a report and recommendations to Mr. Glavine this spring.

Source: Release