The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association doesn’t know what to make of the Atlantic Provinces’ new approach to attracting health care professionals, including doctors.

About 100,000 people in this province don’t have a family doctor according to the NLMA, and the nurses union says more nurses should be hired to prevent burnout and excessive overtime.

The four Premiers, including Andrew Furey, are establishing a “regional accord” to help recruit and retain health care professionals.

NLMA President Dr. Susan McDonald says the shortage of doctors is a complex issue which may or may not be addressed through an Atlantic-wide effort.

The NLMA was not consulted and doesn’t know what the accord means as the devil will be in the details.

Dr. McDonald says some of the rural areas of this province more resemble Nunavut than PEI. She says doctors have been without a contract for the past five years but talks are ongoing.

She wants physicians, nurses and allied health who are considering a job in Newfoundland and Labrador to consider it the same as working in PEI or the other Atlantic provinces. However, McDonald adds that government here is going to have to recognize that there are special circumstances in this province and that it’s going to take more than what’s on the table.