Photo: Government of Alberta

By Josh Hall

Rural Health

Health Minister Shandro announces changes to enhance rural health care

Apr 24, 2020 | 3:08 PM

Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro made a number of announcements Friday afternoon that he says will strengthen the recruitment and retention of rural doctors.

Chief among the changes is an abolishment of the $60,000 cap on the Rural and Remote Northern Program. Shandro said this will allow doctors to earn up to an additional $26,500.

Overhead changes implemented earlier this year are also being paused for urban physicians so that an AHS review can take place. Rural doctors will be permanently exempt.

“Over the last several weeks, discussions with rural caucus and rural physicians have made it clear that there are unique challenges to recruiting and retaining physicians in communities outside of Alberta’s major cities,” the minister stated. “These changes recognize that difference and will significantly improve access to health care for patients in rural communities.”

Also announced:

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• Medical liability rates for all rural physicians, including obstetrics, will be frozen at $1,000.
• On-call rates for all rural physicians will range from $20 per hour to $23 per hour, increasing payments to more than 1,500 physicians
• $6 million will be used to pay for the schooling of 20 medical students over the next three years to incentivize young Albertans from rural communities to return to practise in their home communities

The entire announcement is worth $81 million, and comes following the announcements of many doctors from across the province resigning from hospital duties over the government’s changes to how doctors can bill for their services.

More to come.