Opposition Health critic Paul Dinn is accusing the Liberal government of disrespecting the province’s doctors.

Dinn says with revelations that doctors are being paid significantly less than what’s being paid for calls to the Fonemed service, it seems as though the government is “intent” on making the doctors feel undervalued.

Dinn says it tells us that either the 811 calls are over-valued or the doctor visits are under-valued. He would rather see more attention paid to front-line healthcare workers.

Medical Association President Dr. Kris Luscombe is taking up Health Minister Tom Osborne’s offer of a meeting to discuss their concerns.

Luscombe says the province has categorized the service as 24/7, but they’re taking issue with virtual patient visits with a nurse practitioner which is available 12 hours a day.

Fonemed receives $82 dollars per call for that service.

Luscombe says the virtual care provided by a family physician to their patients is the “gold standard” and members believe government doesn’t have a full understanding of what they bring to the health care relationship.

He says physicians are feeling hurt and demoralized, and the revelation will have a negative impact on morale, recruitment and retention.