Medical system in crisis
Our medical system in Cape Breton is in a crisis situation that has left thousands of our friends, family and neighbours without access to family doctors and specialists.
If the changes to medical incorporation that the Trudeau government has proposed are implemented we will see this situation worsen.
Nova Scotia doctors are among the lowest paid and the highest taxed in the country. Incorporation was introduced for physicians in Nova Scotia in 1995 as a way of retaining and recruiting doctors at a time when they were steadily leaving our province.
Physicians generally have no benefits such as paid vacation, sick time or pension plans. After finishing medical school and training most physicians are in their mid30s and owe on average $200,000250,000.
As responsible members of society they must repay their debts, run a small business and then save for retirement. Most incorporated physicians use their corporations for retirement savings.
It is extremely difficult to recruit general practitioners and specialists to Cape Breton, as is evident from our doctor shortage. Should these changes go through not only will it be hard to attract new doctors there will be a further exodus of physicians who are practicing in our community. This will be the last straw that will cause many physicians to leave our island.
The vast majority of internal medicine specialists in Cape Breton are incorporated. Most have indicated they will reduce their workload if the government plans on taking more than half of the money they are paid in taxes. This will immediately reduce patient access and increase wait times. The only way to prevent this is to contact your member of parliament. No other action or arguments seems to have affected the government’s position.
This attack on the hard-working doctors in our community has been felt as a personal insult and a challenge to those who give so much every day to the wellbeing of our island.
Dr. Paul MacDonald Sydney (Head, Internal Medicine, Eastern zone, NSHA)