Helping New Doctors to Set Up Practices in the Yukon
For Release #06-194
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006
WHITEHORSE – Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers has announced an incentive program to help attract newly graduated physicians to the Yukon.
"When launching the Health Human Resources Strategy earlier this year, it was announced that a key component of the Strategy would be two programs aimed at increasing Yukoners’ access to family physicians," Cathers said. "Today I am pleased to announce the implementation of the second of those programs, the Family Physician Incentive Program for New Graduates."
The new program will provide newly graduated family physicians who meet the eligibility requirements with financial help in exchange for years of service in the Yukon. As new physicians are often repaying student loans, this initiative will help them set up practice.
"To attract new family physicians to the Yukon, we will be providing an incentive of up to $50,000 per doctor," added Cathers.
The grant is available to those who are establishing family medicine practices in the Yukon, including provision of referral and follow-up medical services; and who have been granted post-probationary hospital privilege at Whitehorse General Hospital, including emergency room privileges.
Qualifying new physicians will receive $20,000 at the time they move to the Yukon; with an additional $20,000 at the end of the second year and the final $10,000 at the end of the fourth year. If a physician leaves the Yukon before practicing for five years in the Yukon, the amount will be recovered on a pro-rated basis.
To be eligible for the program, new physicians must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant; and fully licensable in Canada. They must have graduated from a school of medicine within the past five years and have completed the Certificate of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP).
"A key priority of this government is to improve Yukoners' access to health care. In order to do that we need to attract new health care providers to the Yukon," Cathers said. "This new Family Physician Incentive Program for recent grads will help us do that."
The Family Physician Incentive Program is one of several new initiatives under the Health Human Resources Strategy. The $12.7 million strategy was announced in March to address the shortage of health professionals in the Yukon. Over the past several weeks, the government has launched three new bursaries aimed at supporting Yukon students studying nursing, medicine and other health professions.
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