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By Eli J. Ridder

Alberta unveils new pay deal for resident physicians, NDP hails it as ‘good news’

Oct 9, 2024 | 12:08 PM

The Alberta government on Wednesday revealed a new four-year compensation agreement for resident physicians that it says will provide competitive and fair-market compensation for the doctors in training.

The tentative agreement was made through a partnership with Alberta Health Services, the University of Alberta, University of Calgary and the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta.

The new deal includes a three-per-cent wage increase in each of the first two years and a two-per-cent increase in each of the last two years.

Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the Alberta Medical Association, hailed the deal as a win for resident physicians that have been amongst the lowest-paid in the country.

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“This new deal that they appear to have struck does bring up their wages to a level that keeps them competitive across the country,” Duggan told CHAT News.

Alberta Health Services president and CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos said the agreement will increase recruitment of medical students and attract them to the province.

The ruling United Conservative Party has come under pressure to address what doctors say is a failing acute and primary care system.

Dr. Paul Parks, former president of the Alberta Medical Association advocacy group, warned in August that, without new financial investment, “people will die.”

NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman said hailed the deal as “good news for doctors” but said the Alberta government needs to sign a new contract to keep them in the province.

“Unless this UCP government stops stalling and signs the agreement they have already reached with physicians, many will go to other provinces as soon as they complete their residency,” Hoffman said in a statement.

“There are nearly one million Albertans without a family doctor. The UCP government must abandon their war against doctors and get the new compensation model for primary care physicians signed today.”