PEI doctors have ratified and signed a five-year Physician Services Agreement with the Provincial Government and Health PEI. Health Minister Mark Mclane says the new agreement represents a $188.3 million investment in physician services over the five years, and says one of the highlights is the focus on family medicine, which he says will be an upwards of 47 percent increase. McLane says that with that PEI is narrowing the income gap between family medicine and other specialties, which will support the recruitment and retention of family physicians.
Some of the agreement’s highlights include:
- Recognizing Family Medicine as a specialty – PEI is the first province in the country to do so;
- Making PEI family physicians among the top 3 paid in the country;
- New incentive program for family physicians who care for a patient load above their expected benchmark;
- Increasing compensation across the board for all specialists; and
- Reducing red tape and administrative burden for physicians allowing them more time to care for patients.
The province says the agreement also introduces a new partnership model, integrating the Medical Society of PEI into the management of the agreement alongside Health PEI and the Department of Health and Wellness. The new contract is effective April 1 of this year through March 31, 2029, and will affect approximately 340 physician members.
