Physician recruitment reaches five-year high: N.S. health officials

The Nova Scotia government says its doctor recruitment campaign has been successful.

Health officials in Nova Scotia says the province recruited more doctors last year than in any of the past five years and suggest they are on the track to do the same this year.

Katrina Philopoulous, director of physician recruitment with Nova Scotia Health, told a legislative committee that 278 new physicians were recruited last year, which marked a net gain of 199 doctors.

“It was our greatest net-increase over the last five years,” said Philopoulous.

Officials say it’s not only helping increase the number of physicians working here but also helping more Nova Scotians access primary health care.

At last glance there are still 52,771 Nova Scotian who are on the Need a Family Practice Registry. That’s down by nearly 32,000 people from this time last year.

The province’s College of Physicians and Surgeons says the workforce has grown by more than 30 per cent over the last three years, including both family physicians and specialists.

“And a hidden bit of good news is that our demographic is getting greener,” said Dr. Gus Grant, CEO and registrar of the Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons. “The fastest growing cohort of physicians among this growth is the under 40 physician.”

The Official Opposition raised questions around women’s health care and timely access to care. The Nova Scotia NDP referenced patients who are waiting months and even years to seek specialized gynecological care.

“Last week I received an update that instead of a three-year wait to for their OB/GYN, they received an update that they have a four to five-year wait,” said NDP MLA Lisa Lachance, referring to a constituent who is seeking gynecological care.

Health officials confirmed that among the 75 physician specialist vacancies, there are two vacancies that are in obstetrics and gynecological care.

“All of our needs are a priority, from our perspective,” said Philopoulous. “And so we recruit what we’re asked to recruit, and gynecology and OB/GYN is one of those.”

While recruitment numbers trend in the right direction, Grant recognizes the numbers only go so far.

“I’m not deaf to the fact that it’s an effect that means little to your constituents if they’re without a primary care provider,” said Grant. “There’s work left to do.”

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