An MHA who represents a region where emergency room services often are diverted to another hospital farther away says government has to step up and try some things to improve health care.

Bonavista MHA Craig Pardy says there are only a couple of doctors serving some 8,000 people with not nearly enough nurses.

Premiers, including Andrew Furey, are in Victoria, B.C. where they’re expected to formally call on Ottawa to increase its share of funding health care.

Pardy says government should consider some type of service arrangement with Memorial University’s School of Medicine whereby graduates have to spend a period of time in under-served areas.

He says maybe a requirement of two years as five would be stretching it. At least that would provide an upgrade.