New financial incentive for family physicians who set up practice in N.L. highest in Atlantic Canada

Family physicians have a new incentive to set up practice in Newfoundland and Labrador: more cash. The provincial government announced on Aug. 31 that family doctors who open a practice or clinic, or join an existing practice, will receive a bonus of $150,000. In return, the government asks for a five-year service commitment. The funding is through the family practice start-up program. It was launched by the province in October 2021 as a means to recruit family physicians to the province. Initially, family physicians starting a new practice could get up to $100,000. The 15 physicians who have already received funding through the program will retroactively get the full $150,000. The program has also expanded its eligibility criteria to include first year family practice medical residents. The incentive is the highest amount offered in Atlantic Canada. Family physicians setting up practice in other provinces can earn incentives up to: $125,000 in Nova Scotia $115,000 in Prince Edward Island $100,000 in New Brunswick The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association welcomed the announcement, with its president Dr. Kris Luscomb saying the province now has “a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting doctors in Atlantic Canada.” “It also means we now have a family practice start-up program that can compete toe-to-toe with provinces across the country. This attractive incentive will add additional capacity to our physician workforce, which will ultimately benefit patients in the province,” he said, in a press release. The deadline to submit an application to the family practice start-up program is Nov. 1, 2022. The province had previously announced a pilot project to recruit retired physicians back to work and financial support to Ukrainian physicians who want to obtain their medical licence to practice in the province. More information on Newfoundland and Labrador’s incentive programs to recruit physicians can be found here. Read: New pilot project aims to get retired docs back to work

New financial incentive for family physicians who set up practice in N.L. highest in Atlantic Canada

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics