A Nova Scotia man suffering chronic pain says the province’s doctor shortage is ruining his quality of life, as he seeks to find the root cause of his illness without a family physician to help.

Alexander MacMillan says he’s been living with chronic pain for years and no one seems to know why.

He is receiving medical treatment for the pain, but MacMillan says without a family doctor, he has no way of treating the root cause.

“I’ve lost my job of 16 years, I’ve lost any income,” MacMillan said.

What’s worse, MacMillan has not had a family doctor since February.

“I’ve gone through every avenue you can possibly think of, to try and get a family doctor,” he told CTV Atlantic.

Without one, MacMillan’s options are limited. He can go to the emergency room or a walk-in clinic for pain medication, but there’s no one to order tests and follow up.

“It’s starting to scare me, because it’s getting worse,” MacMillan said.

MacMillan is one of thousands of Nova Scotians without a family doctor and the problem appears to be worsening.

According to Doctors Nova Scotia, the association that represents physicians in the province, an estimated 1,300 doctors will need to be hired in the next 10-12 years in order to keep up with demand.

The provincial government says it is working on a recruitment strategy, but it’s had issues recruiting to some communities.

“It’s of great concern and this is why we will have both a short-term and long-term plans as well,” Nova Scotia’s Health Minister Leo Glavine told CTV Atlantic.

He said the government’s short-term physician recruitment plan should be coming out this fall.

Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative MLA Pat Dunn said MacMillan’s story is all too familiar.

“This is a classic example of another Nova Scotian falling through the cracks of our health system,” Dunn said.

MacMillan said he’s running out of options, especially since he’s been told that with his medical history, it will be difficult to find a physician willing to take him on.

“Medication is fine, but I’d like to know what the root of the problem is,” MacMillan said.

With a report by CTV Atlantic’s Sarah Ritchie