Prince Edward Island welcomed 41 new physicians to its health-care system in 2024, 13 of which specialize in family medicine. The P.E.I. government says it signed agreements with 43 physicians from Jan. 1, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025. Thirty-one of those physicians have already started practicing in the province while 11 are scheduled to start this year. One other will begin in 2026. “We recognize that recruitment and retention are ongoing challenges in today’s healthcare landscape and are looking at innovative solutions to ensure our patients receive the care they need,” said Mark McLane, minister of Health and Wellness. The province says the new hires offset the departures of 20 physicians in 2024, which were caused by 13 retirements, five resignations and two deaths. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, P.E.I. had a 6.3 per cent increase in family physicians in 2021, a 4.1 per cent increase in 2022 and a 5.8 per cent increase in 2023. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
