By Sarah Mills

Update: Tentative deal between Saskatchewan doctors and government

Jan 25, 2011 | 9:00 AM

The province's doctors have reached a tentative agreement with the Saskatchewan government.

A letter from President Guruswarmy Sridha on the Saskatchewan Medical Association's website confirms the deal and is recommending the members vote in favour of it.

The agreement includes an 11 per cent increase in the fees paid for a doctor's service, along with a two per cent market adjustment.

According to a government news release, the package also includes $33 million in special programs that reward physicians choosing to adopt a full-scope of practice, rewards for running a rural practice, patient-focused care, chronic disease management and improved after-hours access.

Health Minister Don McMorris hopes the $33 million addresses the long heard concerns doctors have, particular in rural areas.

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“I was in Melfort a year or two ago and heard from physicians that it is hard to retain doctors to do on-call when they weren't reimbursed anywhere close to what is being done in the city,” said McMorris. “Now there still will be a discrepancy because of work load, but it certainly goes a long way to addressing some concerns.”

It is a statement SMA vice-president Doctor Phillip Fourier agrees with, “those are the areas where we have our biggest challenges.”

Nearly 2000 practising doctors in Saskatchewan are expected to complete the ratification process by mid-February.

In the letter on SMA's website, there is praise for the doctors in Swift Current and Moose Jaw who you will remember closed clinics for a day last year, and whose efforts Sridha writes moved the process forward and highlighted how important the deal is.

Doctors will receive details of the package in the mail along with a voting ballot.
 

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