INNISFAIL – There is finally a measure of peace between the Alberta government and the province’s doctors after more than two years of bitter quarrelling over a new contract agreement; a battle that included the rejection of an earlier proposed deal last March.
The new agreement sees a new four-year contract from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2026 that will commit the province to $250 million in new spending.
Just over 70 per cent of voting doctors recently approved the deal. The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) said voter turnout from the province’s 11,000 doctors was 45.8 per cent.
“There is room for optimism,” said Dr. Jesse Christiansen, family physician at the Innisfail Medical Clinic, and a leading voice in the region for a better deal for Alberta’s beleaguered medical community. “The increases are somewhat smaller than what we asked for, but that's often what happens in negotiations.
“There's a reflection that the AMA is working towards driving more of the increases towards primary care, because that's one of the areas of the health care system that is struggling the most,” he said. “But I think this deal to me and to the people I've talked to is seen as a bit of a starting point; hopefully to repairing a lot of the damage that was done over the last two years.”
Equally important, the deal has a focus on physician recruitment and retention, a longstanding concern for the medical community, especially in rural areas.
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There was also a commitment from the province to repeal Bill 21; the legislation that passed in 2019 to give the UCP the power to renege on any future contract with doctors; a move that led to increased physician acrimony.
Once Bill 21 is officially repealed, the AMA will rescind its unfair labour practices lawsuit against the province.
“The agreement will help stabilize physician practices that are struggling with rising costs. Stability is critical to retain and attract physicians,” said Dr. Vesta Michelle Warren, president of the AMA. “There is hard work ahead, but we look forward to rebuilding the relationship with government and seeking solutions through collaboration.”
With the new agreement Alberta doctors will see a rate increase of four per cent over the four-year term, which includes a lump-sum payment this fiscal year.
The new agreement calls for up to $39 million annually to support physician recruitment and retention for physicians who practise full-time in underserved areas.
The $39 million investment is also targeting annual support to the existing Rural Remote Northern Program and specific physician support programs, including the medical liability reimbursement program, continuing medical education program and physician locum programs.
The agreement will also see $20 million lump sum increases for Primary Care Networks in 2022-23 and 2023-24 to provide additional support for primary care.
“It will stabilize the health system, target areas of concern and support Albertans’ health-care needs,” said Jason Copping, the province’s minister of health. “With its significant investments, this agreement will provide a path forward to address the challenges facing the health system and issues brought forward by physicians.”
Going forward, both sides agree there is still much work needed to repair the damage caused by the long 30-month period of acrimony.
In a Sept. 29 news release, the province is promising physicians will have shared responsibility to review compensation rates, relative to market, to help bring them into closer alignment with peer provinces. There is also a pledge that engagement will continue with the AMA during the review process through joint committees.
“We will work together with physicians as partners as we move forward,” said Copping.
Christiansen told the Albertan last week that the last 30 months was a “difficult period” that saw the doctors’ contract “ripped up”, with COVID-19 arriving to add pressures during a time they were not feeling supported.
“There's a lot of work that needs to be done because one deal does not build trust back again,” said Christiansen. “I think a lot of the sentiments that have been put forward by the health minister and Alberta Health and the AMA are laudable things.
“Saying we want to make sure we're working towards making sure that every Albertan has access to a family doctor, that primary care is put forward as an important factor that's driving outcomes in our healthcare system, are easy things to say.
“We need to make sure we're actually monitoring whether these changes are actually allowing clinics to recruit full time family physicians working in communities.”
