Alberta makes tentative deal with resident physicians that includes wage hikes

Alberta announced Wednesday it has reached a tentative four-year deal with resident physicians to introduce a series of wage increases over the next four years.“This is a great day for resident physicians,” Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a news conference on Wednesday,Under the negotiated agreement, physicians in training will receive wage hikes of 3% in each of the first two years, followed by increases of 2% in the remaining two years. The province says the agreement will also include “market adjustments that put Alberta on par with other western Canadian medical schools.”The parties of the deal include Alberta Health Services, the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA) and the Universities of Calgary and Alberta.Resident doctors have been without a deal since the previous contract expired in June. Dr. Pauwlina Cyca, president of PARA, says the new agreement allows Alberta to “position itself as an attractive destination for resident physicians across Canada.”“By enhancing compensation as well as training and working conditions, we are ensuring that Alberta continues to recruit and retain the brightest medical talent to serve our communities and contribute to meaningful healthcare reform,” Dr. Cyca said at the news conference.Also included in the deal is a letter of understanding among the parties to conduct a comprehensive review to evaluate on-call requirements among resident physicians. The letter notes that in some programs, residents are working 100 to 120 hours a week, while other programs rarely require the use of call.“A comprehensive call review committee with representatives from PARA, AHS and the universities will evaluate duty hours call categories and best practices to ensure that resident physicians' wellness is prioritized, patient care is safeguarded and compensation reflects the evolving nature of virtual and home call,” LaGrange said.This isn’t the only recent policy announcement from the Alberta government relating to resident physicians. Last week, the province also announced $16-million worth of new bursaries for resident physicians seeking to practice in rural and remote communities.Meanwhile, negotiations on a new pay model between the Alberta Medical Association and the province continue to be underway. LaGrange says a new compensation model for doctors could come “quickly.”“I can’t say it’s going to happen this minute, but we are in the process. I’m completing the processes that I need to do to make sure this is sustainable,” she said.

Alberta makes tentative deal with resident physicians that includes wage hikes

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