The Nova Scotia Department of Health, the district health authorities and the IWK have a shared mission to work together to empower individuals, families, partners, and communities to promote, improve and maintain the health of Nova Scotians through a proactive and sustainable health care system.
The Department of Health sets strategic direction for the health system through:
- Direction and support of health transformation initiatives
- Funding to district health authorities and provincial programs, including ground and air ambulance programs
- Development and support of provincial programs and initiatives
- Administration of continuing care services, the Senior’s Pharmacare Program and the Family Pharmacare Program
- Policy, legislation and standards
Nova Scotia's health services are delivered by nine district health authorities and the IWK. These health authorities deliver health care services to residents and are responsible for all hospitals, community health services, mental health services and public health programs in their districts.
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Four communities in the province will welcome new doctors in the new year - "We are currently finalizing four-year contracts with four new family doctors under the very successful Clinician Assessment for Practice Program," said Health Minister Maureen MacDonald, on Dec. 17 2009.
"These doctors will be located in Annapolis Royal, Shelburne, New Glasgow and Guysborough and will begin seeing patients as early as January."
These four new doctors are in addition to the two doctors who began their practices in Pictou and Sherbrooke in January 2009 and another who just began her practice in Yarmouth in November.
The Clinician Assessment for Practice Program assesses the clinical skills of International Medical Graduate physicians who want to become licensed in Nova Scotia. Successful candidates are then eligible to apply for a defined licence to practice medicine under the guidance of an experienced physician mentor. This program is a collaborative effort between the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, the District Health Authorities and the Department of Health.
According to the latest Canadian Institute for Health Information report released in November, Nova Scotia continues to have the highest number of doctors per capita in Canada than any other province. But there are still challenges with the distribution of those doctors. The area around metro Halifax for example, has a much higher proportion of doctors per population as compared with the more rural areas of the province.
The Department of Health continues to collaborate with the district health authorities and other partners on a number of initiatives to increase the number of doctors practicing in rural areas.
"We've introduced a number of very successful programs over the past few years from relocation allowances to site visits and debt assistance programs and the Clinician Assessment for Practice Program, all aimed at getting more doctors into the areas that need them most," said Ms. MacDonald.
"It's great to maintain our number one ranking again this year for having the most doctors, but we must continue to focus on getting these doctors into our rural communities."
Since it began in 2005 the Clinician Assessment for Practice Program has brought more than 30 new physicians to rural Nova Scotia.
News Releases
- Pharmacists Can Offer Broader Prescribing Services
- Recent changes to the pharmacy regulations will broaden the ability of pharmacists to provide prescription medications to better serve Nova Scotians. - 2010/01/27 - 09:40
- Health Ministers Work Together to Benefit Atlantic Canadians
- Atlantic Health Ministers met in Halifax today, Jan. 15, to collaborate on ways to benefit the health of Atlantic Canadians. - 2010/01/15 - 16:50
- Province Takes Steps to Reduce Wait Time, Improve Cancer Care
- Cancer patients in Nova Scotia will have a shorter wait and get better care thanks to upgrades at the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre in Halifax and the Cape Breton Cancer Centre in Sydney. - 2010/01/15 - 09:33
- Seniors Won't Pay More
- NOTE: The following is an op-ed piece by Health Minister Maureen MacDonald. The government is committed to making life better and more affordable for Nova Scotians. This is particularly important for seniors. - 2010/01/08 - 16:27
- Province Keeps Seniors' Pharmacare Affordable
- Despite a significant increase in the costs of the Seniors Pharmacare Program, maximum premiums and co-payments will remain the same for seniors in 2010-11. - 2010/01/08 - 16:20
