Jack Layton might want to think twice about supporting the upcoming budget in exchange for the Harper government’s meagre plan to increase the number of rural doctors. When compared to the Liberal Party’s commitment made last April, the Conservatives’ plan is merely a band-aid solution.
The Liberal Plan
The Liberal Plan would help up to 6,000 doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners practice in underserved rural communities by forgiving up to $20,000 of their student debt.
The Liberal Plan will also work with provinces to strengthen rural health services, to help keep doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners in rural and remote areas by:
- Providing support for rural-focused medical and nursing education;
- Encouraging young Canadians in rural communities to go to medical school or study nursing;
- Introducing programs to find employment for the spouses of new doctors and nurses;
- Strengthening rural medicine extension programs; and
- Improving internet access for rural health practitioners.
The Conservative Plan
The Conservative Plan would help only 100 family medicine residents receive training and provide medical services in remote and rural communities across Canada.
It does not include any incentives for nurses and nurse practitioners, whose roles are vital in underserved rural communities, nor does it address the real problem of recruitment and retention of family physicians in remote and rural communities.
