The provincial government has announced a $25,000 retention bonus for family physicians for a one-year return-in-service agreement.
All family physicians will be eligible for the one time bonus.
Government says it will be pro-rated, with family doctors doing full-time clinical work receiving the full $25,000.
That work may be done in a private practice, working for a Regional Health Authority, or a combination of both.
To qualify, physicians must have been working in the province for one year as of March 1st. Doctors with less than one year under their belt can receive a pro-rated portion of the bonus.
Funds will be given out via an application-based process, which will be administered by the new Provincial Health Authority.
The announcement is the latest in a series of retention initiatives for doctors. Earlier this week government announced a $200,000 signing bonus for doctors in Bonavista, New-Wes-Valley, and Baie Verte.
Family physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador are now eligible for a $25,000 recognition and retention bonus for a one-year return-in-service agreement. Click below for more details. @HCS_GovNL #GovNL https://t.co/3ZDr1m5Ew2
— Government of NL (@GovNL) March 17, 2023
NLMA President D. Kris Luscombe calls the latest announcement, coupled with the $200,000 singing bonus to be offered to physicians willing to sign on for a two year commitment in places like Bonavista, a good step.
He hopes it will help to address what has become a “pretty significant human resource crisis,” but he hopes it doesn’t cause more problems.
Luscombe says there is always a danger when offering incentives to set up in one area, that it will take away from another.
