Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith and David Opinko

Healthcare

Grande Prairie adds eight physicians in second quarter of 2024

Jul 18, 2024 | 6:00 AM

A new report by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta says Grande Prairie added eight physicians in the second quarter of this year. That brings the total number of medical doctors in the Swan City to 162.

The report says at the end of June last year, Grande Prairie had 144 physicians after adding 18 in the second quarter of 2023. The year-over-year increase was also 18.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says rural communities across much of the province are benefitting in the growth of physicians.

“At a time when rural Albertans are experiencing difficulty in accessing physician care, I am especially pleased to see significant year-over-year growth in the number of practising physicians in rural Alberta,” says LaGrange. “The Central Zone had the fastest growth, with an increase of 59 physicians from the same period last year, for a 7.5 per cent increase, followed by the South Zone, with an increase of 31 physicians, a 5.4 per cent increase.”

The report states Alberta had its highest-ever growth in physician staffing in the second quarter.

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The province added 124 physicians in just the last three months and 496 over the past year. The last year saw the addition of 208 family doctors

There are now 11,756 practicing physicians in Alberta.

LaGrange says, “This increase is incredibly positive, but we’re not stopping our efforts to attract more physicians. As part of the Health Workforce Strategy, we are working to increase the number of spaces in our province’s medical schools, residency positions and training opportunities for international medical graduates.”

The full report can be found on the CPSA website.