Doctors don’t think much of the provincial government’s measures to improve access to health care and don’t see how it will increase the number of physicians.

However, Health Minister John Haggie says it’s not about numbers, but a redistribution of resources.

At least four collaborative care clinics will open up over the next while: One on Pippy Place, another on Topsail Road, and one each in Central and Western but none for Labrador at this time.

The walk-in clinics will each be able to accommodate 1200-1500 people.

Susan McDonald, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, says this is just a bunch of bandaids, as the clinics will simply draw from existing resources.

She says opening up a couple of clinics in the province will probably amount to poaching and doesn’t fix the real problem.

She’s calling on government to get back to the negotiating table.

Minister Haggie sees the clinics as a good first step to improving access.

He says our current system is not designed to ease the individual patient’s access to the care they need at the time they need it.

He says they’re dealing with the systematic issues and allowing practitioners to do the work they’re trained for and not answering phones and dealing with clerical issues.