The Premier is defending a recent health care recruitment trip to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates as government engages in contract talks with members of Allied Health.

Union members, who represent a wide range of specialized health care professionals, responded with frustration to the premier’s recent recruitment trip.

AAHP was angered by the “celebratory tone” used to position the trip as a “demonstration of government’s commitment to strengthening” the health care system.

Andrew Furey says despite making progress in recruitment and retention of health care professionals, gaps remain and different solutions must be found to address what he calls a complex situation.

He says the province is no longer losing health care professionals but is adding “home grown medical professionals” to the local health care system, but certain roles still need to be filled. He says the province has adopted “national leading incentives” to retain Newfoundlanders and Labradorians “we also must look elsewhere to fill the void.”

NDP Leader Jim Dinn meanwhile says scouring the world the recruit health care workers is the wrong answer and government must retain the people it already has.

Recruitment Results

The province says the Dubai trip resulted in 81 offers made to a number of health care professionals including 68 nurses, three radiation technologists, three pharmacy techs, five IT professionals, one cook and one pharmacist.

Of the 68 nurses who were offered jobs in this province, 29 have completed the requirement exam for licensure.