New Four-Year Agreement Signed with Yukon Medical Association
For Release #08-196
August 13, 2008
WHITEHORSE - Health and Social Services Minister Glenn Hart and Yukon Medical Association President Rao Tadepalli announced today the ratification of a new four-year agreement for physician services in Yukon.
"This new agreement provides a stable environment within which to recruit and retain physicians," Hart said. "The physician compensation package places us in a very competitive position with other jurisdictions."
The agreement addresses priority service areas such as the Whitehorse General Hospital doctor of the day and emergency room, obstetrical care, care provided to infants and people over 60 who may require more time with their physician, as well as services provided in the communities where it is more difficult to attract and retain physicians.
The previous agreement expired on March 31, 2008. The department and the Yukon Medical Association began negotiations in June.
"We are particularly pleased with the addition of an Emergency Room and obstetrical care stipend," Tadepalli said. "It can be difficult for physicians to take a shift in the emergency room, especially at night, when it makes them unavailable to provide services in their own clinic the next day. The hourly stipend will help alleviate some of these issues. Obstetrical care, as well, can be quite demanding and an additional payment will see these services being compensated more fairly."
This new agreement is effective from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012 and is worth $8.9M over the life of the agreement.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2008-2012 PHYSICIAN SERVICES AGREEMENT
• Term of agreement: April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012
• Three per cent fee increases in each of the four years of the agreement
• Age and community fee modifiers
• Emergency Room support
• Obstetrical care support
• Doctor of the Day in Whitehorse General Hospital was added to the groups of physicians compensated for taking care of orphan patients
• Maternal/Paternal Benefits modeled after similar programs in the south
• New graduates support program encouraging new young doctors to come north
• Other benefits that remain in effect are:
o Recruitment and retention allowances
o Resident support program
o Malpractice Insurance support program
o Continuing Medical Education
o Educational support program
o Rural training fund
o Physician relocation fund
o Locum support program