Medical association, N.L. government strike tentative deal after months of negotiations
Physicians have been without a contract for 4 years
After months of negotiations, and four years without a contract, a tentative deal has been reached between Newfoundland and Labrador's physicians and the provincial government.
In a media release Friday, the province said it reached a tentative agreement for the renewal of its memorandum of agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association.
The NLMA represents physicians in the province and has long pushed for a new contract with government. The group has also called for the province to improve recruitment and retention strategies to draw in new doctors, as about 98,000 residents don't have a family doctor.
Negotiations went sour in October, however, when the the NLMA called off discussions.
At the time, the association's president, Dr. Susan MacDonald said Health Minister John Haggie and Finance Minister Siobhan Coady wouldn't spend any money to improve doctor recruitment and retention. MacDonald said the NLMA's own proposals had been "flatly rejected."
MacDonald also said the government was using a "divide and conquer tactic" during negotiations, advising that there would be a change to provincial legislation to remove the requirement that physicians must be members of the association.
The tentative agreement covers more than 1,300 salaried, alternative payment plan and fee-for-service physicians in the province.
The province said it won't be discussing details until the NLMA completes its ratification process.
In a letter to members Friday, MacDonald said the NLMA will not be sharing details either, until after members have had the chance to review and vote on the deal.
"We will hold online meetings to discuss the tentative agreement and answer questions prior to an online vote among practicing members," MacDonald said in her letter.
"It has been a long road and I am very happy to share this news with you as we get ready to welcome the new year."