NL Health Services says 25 new physicians were hired across the province in the first three months of 2024.

The doctors, recruited locally, internationally and from MUN’s School of Medicine, will take up positions in family medicine as well as a range of specialties including surgery, gynecology, radiology and orthopedics.

The vice-president of medical services can’t say for certain what the current level of vacancies might be, because of the way in which physicians bill the system, but Dr. Gina Bugden says the new hires will make a difference.

“This is really an important step in our extensive recruitment efforts that we’ve undertaken as an organization,” says Bugden. “Adding 25 physicians into our health care system will undoubtedly improve the access that we can provide to our patients, and will also provide some much needed resources and additional help for our colleagues in the system.”