Medical Recruitment
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association requests that the Province of Alberta develop a model to encourage that resources are in place for the recruitment and retention of medical physicians and professionals particularly those in specialized practices such as Anaesthetists’, Obstetricians’, etc… to ensure that residents in rural Alberta have access to such services.
WHEREAS Health Care is a responsibility of the Province of Alberta;
WHEREAS Alberta Health Services is directly responsible for regulation of the provincial health care system including the provision of emergency services, medical facilities, recruitment, and retention of medical physicians and other health care professionals; and
WHEREAS it has been publicly stated by the Honourable Minister of Health that, “recruitment of physicians is a municipal responsibility..”
Aug 2010 - Alberta Health and Wellness
The Government is committed to providing rural communities with quality, accessible and sustainable health care, and is taking steps to ensure Alberta has enough doctors. The recruitment of physicians to Alberta’s communities is a joint responsibility of the communities, the community physicians, Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Government of Alberta.
Physicians are self-employed and can practice where they choose. The Government does not place restrictions on the location of a physician’s practice. However, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has several programs that encourage physicians to practice in communities where there is a shortage. For example, Rural, Remote Northern Program is a direct response to issues faced by areas of the province where it is difficult to recruit or retain physicians or where practice costs have significantly increased. In addition, the Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan provides programs to support recruitment and retention of rural physicians. The Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan provides a 100% tuition bursary for up to 10 students each year, provided the students agree to work in a rural community upon graduation.
AHS is responsible for the delivery of health care services across Alberta and is developing a rural and community health planning framework. AHS is also undertaking evidence-based planning and working with communities to determine the right mix of services, giving consideration to geography and proximity to services. The AHS Board has established 12 health advisory councils for local communities to provide advice to the Board regarding health care services. It is essential that rural communities and AHS continue to communicate and work together to stabilize our rural health workforce.
AUMA accepts this response.