By RD News Now

Pausing earlier announced changes

Health minister announces changes to enhance rural health

Apr 24, 2020 | 2:51 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.

The opposition NDP will respond at 3 p.m.