(March 19, 2021) – PC Leader Ches Crosbie says the on-going election mess, a result of Premier Andrew Furey putting his own ambition ahead of public safety, means the family doctor crisis in our province remains unaddressed.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) remains in contract talks with the provincial government, with no movement allowed under the extended caretaker government.

Crosbie says the 90,000 people in the province without access to a family doctor is an unacceptable number that continues to go unaddressed.

“The House of Assembly should be sitting right now with members working to address our critical doctor shortage problem,” said Crosbie. “But that’s impossible because Andrew Furey made a self-serving decision to call an election at the worst possible time.”

Crosbie says a PC government would take a collaborative approach with the NLMA and work together to address the doctors crisis.

“Instead of fighting with the NLMA, as the Liberals have been for the last number of years, a PC government would partner with the association to address the major concerns throughout the province,” said Crosbie.

“The NLMA knows where the issues are in our healthcare system and should be leading the way on solutions, not bogged down at the negotiating table with an inattentive government."

A PC government will:

•Implement a province-wide program of primary healthcare teams, taking from the advice of the NLMA, to allow family physicians to move away from solo practice to team practice;

•Integrate practitioners, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers into the team structure to allow a continued relationship between patients and healthcare professionals;

•Set specific goals on the advice of the NLMA to reduce the proportion of unattached patients to 5 per cent and retain 75 per cent of Memorial medical graduates;

•Work with communities, doctors and the NLMA to focus on the recruitment of family doctors, including a more robust retention structure for graduating physicians and provide an attractive reimbursement/taxation packages for those who choose to practice in the province;

•Change the Medical Transportation Assistance Plan (MTAP)to allow 100 per cent reimbursement for any necessary travel for medical purposes.

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Communications

(p) (709) 769-2216

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