ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador is announcing new health-care reforms aimed at improving primary care access in the province, including new plans for physician recrutiment and retention.
In an Oct. 18 release, the provincial government announced several immediate changes to the provincial health system, including creating new community-based collaborative health teams and increasing access to virtual care.
The province said new physician recruitment and retention plans are also underway. The province pledged to establish a new provincial recruitment and retention office alongside two pilot projects intended to attract more new medical graduates to family practice.
Those pilot projects include financial support for new family doctors who open a new clinic or join an established clinic in the first two years of practice. Up to $100,000 will also be made available for new family practice physicians who open a new family practice clinic or join an existing family practice and stay for five years.
The provincial government also pledged to create new immigration pathways for international health graduates.
Licensed practical nursing programs will see graduates increase by 40 per cent, and personal care attendant programs will see a 20 per cent increase. The bachelor of science in nursing program will also see the number of seats offered increase by 25 per cent. It will also be offered in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor, beginning September 2022.
The new programs come alongside recently announced initiatives, including funding for existing bursary programs and the Family Physician Renewal Program, which will cost some $30 million annually in total.
The province said the new programs will serve as a foundation upon which to build recommendations from the 10-Year Health Accord created in 2020.
