Doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador have been asked to resign from all government committees in a bid to force the province to come up with more money to attract and retain physicians. In September, the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association called on Health Minister Julie Bettney to increase family physicians' fees and pay for on-call work, but she said the cost was too high. The NLMA responded with the resignation plan Oct. 3. “Our negotiating committee is the only government-related committee that is still operational,” said NLMA President Lydia Hatcher. In early October, no negotiations were under way.
Hatcher says Newfoundland physicians are paid 25% less than other doctors in Atlantic Canada, and the resignations were requested because “until government is prepared to address our concerns over a deterioration in the quality of patient care, we will not support any of its initiatives.” Hatcher says the province's high level of physician turnover makes continuity of patient care “very difficult.” At the moment, half of the family doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador are unable to accept new patients. The average waiting time to see a specialist is 4 months, the second longest in Canada.
Hatcher says the NLMA job action is designed to minimize the impact on patient care. This point will be stressed in an advertising campaign being launched across the province.
The doctors' memorandum of understanding with the province was signed in 1998 and does not expire until September 2002. The NLMA represents more than 1300 physicians and physicians in training.