N.S. sees net gain of 187 doctors in last year

A stock photo of a stethoscope. (Pixabay)

Nova Scotia has seen a net gain of 187 doctors in the last year, which is nearly twice the amount from the year prior.

According to Nova Scotia Health, the province welcomed 253 new doctors between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025. Of that total, 89 are family doctors and 164 are specialists.

“Our province attracted 40 per cent more doctors overall this past fiscal year than the year prior. That includes 60 per cent more family doctors recruited than in the year before,” said Premier Tim Houston in a news release.

Thirty-two of the new doctors were internationally trained physicians.

“Our physician recruitment successes are a direct result of the dedication and tireless efforts of the Nova Scotia Health physician recruitment team, the physicians who actively support this work, and the strong collaboration with our partners and community groups,” said Dr. Nicole Boutilier, executive vice president of medicine and clinical operations at Nova Scotia Health.

Earlier this month Nova Scotia Health reported the list of residents in need of a family doctor or nurse practitioner dropped from 104,300 people on Feb. 15 to 93,700 on April 1.

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