Bruce County Warden Janice Jackson. (Submitted photo from Bruce County)Bruce County Warden Janice Jackson. (Submitted photo from Bruce County)
Midwestern

Bruce County supports call to encourage more doctors to practice in rural areas

Bruce County Council has supported a letter from the Town of South Bruce Peninsula asking the province to address an alarming shortage of physicians.

Bruce County Warden and South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Janice Jackson told Bruce County Council Thursday they hear daily about many people who don't have a doctor or access to primary medical caregivers.

A letter to premier Doug Ford asked for subsidy opportunities for students who commit to becoming a physician with measures to ensure they practice in Ontario.

"And the idea behind it is that the provincial government supports these students in their tuition, in return for agreeing to work in an underserviced or remote area. So that's key," she explained.

She pointed out as the shortage reaches hospital emergency rooms, we are now seeing periodic closures as there are no physicians to staff them.

She added that limited space available at Canadian Universities for medical school and residency programs is adding to the situation.

Jackson said the seemingly onerous and expensive process for international physicians to become accredited to practice in the province is also complicating things.

 

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