WHO SHOULD RECRUIT DOCTORS ON P.E.I.?

On Oct. 8, I listened to the four Egmont riding candidates discuss the doctor shortage. This is the same mistake politicians make over and over again. Politicians do not have the knowledge or the strategy to recruit medical professionals.

They seriously lack the understanding and/or the requirements within the medical field. Consider the idea proposed that morning by Liberal candidate Bobby Morrissey, and agreed with by the NDP candidate. Train doctors here on P.E.I., in other words, create our own teaching hospital.

Well, let’s think about that: Do we have the facilities or equipment for such a project? I think not. In my own limited experience, I had to go to Halifax for heart surgery, and many patients are sent offIsland for other surgeries and treatments not available here. To train doctors here we would need a complete range of medical procedures and suitably qualified staff.

The cost would be well beyond our reach. In lieu of this, I’d suggest we pay the tuition fees for medical school selected P.E.I. candidates. Then have a contract that they practice on P.E.I. for say five or more years. Looking back over the last several decades, politicians have been promising to recruit more doctors continually. It should, by now, be clear - politicians should stay out of recruiting doctors. It should be left to the medical profession to do the job they are best qualified to do.

F. Ben Rodgers, Abram-Village