According to the Prince Edward Island Ministry of Health, the province hired a total of 32 new doctors in the first six months of 2024.
In comparison, only 24 new employees were hired in the entire year of 2023.
Health Minister Mark McLane said 12 doctors had also given up their practices in the province, representing a net increase of 20 doctors.
“There have been some retirements, unfortunately two doctors have passed away this year… we have had a transition within our system and two resignations,” McLane said.
All new doctors have signed contracts agreeing to come to Prince Edward Island and some have already begun practice.
The department said 18 doctors will be on duty by the end of July and that the number is expected to rise by 10 more by the end of the year.
Three of them will start in 2025, one in 2026.
“It’s not minus 11 degrees”
Of the 32 new hires, 11 are general practitioners. McLane said they will not all be full-time family doctors, as some will also work in emergency medicine or palliative care.
“Of course, we know that primary health care is a major concern for us and we urgently need it,” McLane said.
“We want to be very transparent and disclose all the details about who we hired, where we hired them and what their area of expertise is.”
The Ministry of Health has published this table listing the specialty of each new doctor. (PEI Ministry of Health)
Since July 8, Prince Edward Island’s patient registry – the province’s waiting list for a family doctor – has grown to more than 38,600 people, or about 22 percent of the population.
McLane said islanders would feel the impact of the new hires on the total number of registry members over the next one to two years.
“It takes a while for these doctors to grow their practices,” he said. “They treat … between 75 and 100 patients a month.”
While this will not remove everyone from the patient registry, McLane said it is a step in the right direction.
“We understand that people would like to see more than 11, but it’s plus 11 and not minus 11.”
The majority will work in Queens County
A document released by the Ministry of Health shows that the vast majority of the new hires (23) will practice in Queens County, including four hired at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.
In comparison, there are six doctors in East Prince – five of whom will practice at Prince County Hospital in Summerside – two in West Prince and one in Kings County.
Four of the new hires will be based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. (Laura Meader/CBC)
While there are incentives for doctors to practice in rural areas of the island, McLane said it is up to each individual doctor to decide where in the province they want to work.
“Ultimately, every new doctor helps every islander, no matter where they live,” he said.
“If we increase the number of doctors, it will help our entire system.”
Of the 32 incoming physicians, the majority will practice in Queens County. (PEI Department of Health and Wellness)
McLane expects improvements in the province’s representation strategy will also lead to an increase in the number of doctors practicing in West Prince.
“I think we’re very attractive to a lot of doctors. They want to come here for six or eight weeks, bring their family, maybe practice three or four days a week and basically have a working vacation,” McLane said.
“We are ready to act”
McLane said he has personally attended two doctor recruitment events in recent weeks and that UPEI’s future medical school is viewed positively.
McLane says UPEI’s new medical school is being discussed positively at doctor recruitment meetings. (Kerry Campbell/CBC)
“It helps our recruitment efforts. People want to work with apprentices,” he said.
“It’s a unique opportunity, especially for those physicians who are finishing their careers and want to maybe teach two days a week and practice three days.”
While hiring is expected to be slower in the second half of 2024 than the first, McLane hopes the progress made since January will continue.
“If doctors want to do something, we are ready to act.”
