NLIS 6
October 3, 2001 
(Health and Community Services)

 

Minister responds to NLMA job action

Health and Community Services Minister Julie Bettney says she regrets the job action which started today by the members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA). "The withdrawal of physicians from government committees will slow down work on such topics as physician resource planning and reform of the primary health care system," said the minister.

The NLMA claims that government has refused to cooperate on issues such as physician recruitment and retention. "Unfortunately," said the minister, "the NLMA is now withdrawing from committees which were created to address these very issues." The physician resource planning committee was created to ensure a balanced demand and supply of physicians in the province. The primary care advisory committee was created to find a more rewarding and effective approach to family medicine which will help attract and retain family doctors.

The members of the NLMA have been pressuring government to raise fees for family medicine and to expand compensation for on-call coverage. Government has already told NLMA that the current agreement, which does not expire for another year, already contains negotiated increases in compensation. Government will not reopen this agreement, but is willing to engage in early negotiations for a new agreement which will commence after the current one expires.

Government is also grappling with significant financial pressures in the health system. If additional money was available at the current time, the requirements of health boards would have to be considered.

Minister Bettney encouraged the NLMA to defer job actions, focus on negotiations for a new agreement next fall, and return to the committees which are working on new directions in health. She also expressed the hope that doctors will participate in the health forums which are being launched today in Grand Falls-Windsor. 

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 685-4624.

2001 10 03                              1:05 p.m.


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