Family physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador are now eligible for a $25,000 recognition and retention bonus for a one-year return-in-service agreement. This incentive is aimed at not only helping retain family doctors, but also recognizing their significant efforts, as government continues its plan to improve the health care system and address challenges facing primary health care in the province.

This one-time bonus for all family physicians will be pro-rated, with family doctors doing full-time clinical work (five days per week) receiving the full $25,000. This clinical work can be in private practice, working for a regional health authority, or a combination of both.

To qualify, family physicians must have been in practice in Newfoundland and Labrador for one full year as of March 1, 2023. Those with less than one year can receive a pro-rated portion of the bonus.

This will be an application-based process administered by the new Provincial Health Authority, and will require the signing of a return-in-service agreement. Details regarding the application process will be forthcoming.

A number of initiatives have been introduced aimed at recruitment and retention of physicians and improving physician services in the province. This includes a commitment in the 2017- 23 Memorandum of Agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association to establish a Blended Capitation Model of physician remuneration, as well as other shared priorities outlined in the Shared Agenda signed between both parties in January 2023 to advance priorities within family medicine in the province.

More information on measures aimed at the recruitment and retention of health care professionals in the province can be found here.

Quotes
“Family physicians are an integral part of our province’s health care system. It is important that, as we continue our efforts to recruit physicians to our province, we must also retain those who continue to provide valuable care to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. This bonus for family physicians is a well-deserved recognition of their ongoing commitment to primary care in our province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Our health care system cannot afford to lose any more family doctors. There are acute shortages in family medicine that broadly span the community and our rural hospitals. As a result, access to primary care has become increasingly difficult for thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Provincial Government has made strides towards improving recruitment initiatives in family medicine and the NLMA is pleased to see that it is supporting retention efforts as well. This new initiative will help retain our existing family medicine workforce and maintain continuity of care for patients.”
Dr. Kris Luscombe
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association

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