The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is today announcing a call for applications for Family Practice Programs.
The Family Practice Start-Up Program will provide $150,000, the highest incentive offered in Atlantic Canada, to new family practice physicians who open a family practice clinic, or join an existing family practice in the community, in return for a five-year service commitment. Family physicians working less than full-time may be eligible for pro-rated funding.
Additionally, the New Family Physician Income Guarantee provides new fee-for-service family physicians who open a new family practice or join an established family practice with a guaranteed minimum income over their first two years of practice.
The programs are available to new family physicians who will be practicing in Newfoundland and Labrador, including:
- Physicians entering a fee-for-service family practice for the first time.
- Physicians practicing family medicine in another province who intend to relocate to Newfoundland and Labrador to practice fee-for-service family medicine.
More information, including the application form, can be found here, or by emailing MedServicesPrograms@gov.nl.ca. The deadline for applications is August 31, 2023.
These Family Practice Programs deliver on a commitment made by the Provincial Government in October 2021 to improve access to primary health care in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as to help attract and retain health care professionals.
The Department of Health and Community Services is committed to recruiting and retaining the best and brightest health care professionals to the province. As of June 2023, 33 physicians have accepted employment as a result of the Come Home Incentive and 22 family physicians are practicing in the province due to the family practice programs. Visit the Health Care Action website for more details on government’s recruitment and retention initiatives.
Quotes
“We remain committed to increasing access to primary health care in our province. Since the launch of the Family Practice Program, 22 physicians have received funding to open or join a family practice right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. The program enables better career planning on behalf of residents, which will impact the retention of these health care professionals.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“The NLMA is pleased that the Provincial Government is continuing to take steps to improve recruitment and retention of family physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Family Practice Program provides an attractive incentive that has proven to be successful in enticing new family physicians to the province. This initiative and other others like the Family Physician Income Guarantee, Family Medicine Retention bonuses and the upcoming rollout of the new blended capitation payment model and family care teams, all help to improve stability within the family medicine workforce and increase access to primary care for patients.”
Dr. Gerard Farrell
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
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