(December 8, 2022, St. John’s) – PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Health and Community Service, Paul Dinn, is calling out the Liberal government once again for disrespecting doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This criticism comes after the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association obtained an Access to Information Request on the Fonemed service, revealing that doctors in the province are receiving less than half the amount of money for an in-person visit when compared to a single call to the 811 service.

“I am hearing from physicians in our province that they are feeling disrespected and that this Liberal government is to blame. We have 125,000 people in our province without a family doctor, while it seems that the Furey-led government is intent on making the doctors we do have left feel undervalued,” said Dinn”

While residents of Newfoundland and Labrador can call 811 to speak to a Nurse Practitioner, physicians are capped by the provincial government on how many patients they can see virtually per day.

“There are physicians in our province that are able to see more patients per day virtually than government will allow them to,” said Dinn.

“At the same time, government is choosing to pay a private company double the rate for an 811 call when compared to an in-person appointment with a doctor. It is no wonder why physicians in our province feel disrespected, and why this Liberal government’s retention record is so dismal.”

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca