New family doctor compensation model a 'new day for family physicians' in B.C.
A new payment model came into effect Wednesday for family doctors in British Columbia.
Under the new model, a full-service family doctor currently making $250,000 a year could make up to $385,000 annually.
The province's goal is to keep and attract more family doctors in B.C., while also matching family doctors with the one million British Columbians currently without one.
Dr. Alex Nataros is one of 194 family doctors on Vancouver Island who have signed up for the new payment model so far.
“This new patient model is going to make a big difference in physician well-being, as well as meeting the needs of the patients," he said Wednesday.
Doctors of BC, a professional organization for physicians in the province, says there are currently about 3,000 family doctors providing care in B.C.
Many former family doctors have switched to other jobs, like working in hospitals where the hours and pay are better, according to the group. The province hopes the new model can change that trend.
"It’s the most significant reform to primary care in my lifetime," Dix said Wednesday.
“Today is a new day for family physicians to have choice to provide the care that they’ve always wanted to do, but have not been able to," said Dr. Joshua Greggain with Doctors of BC.
Critics says more is needed to attract people into family medicine.
"There needs to be a complete support plan," said former Colwood mayor David Saunders. "Just giving funding isn’t going to do it."
He is calling for a holistic plan, which focuses on more affordable housing for health-care workers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Walmart Canada CEO says retailer not trying to profit from inflation
Walmart Canada is not trying to profit from food inflation, president and CEO Gonzalo Gebara told a parliamentary committee studying the issue Monday evening.

How many COVID-19 vaccine doses should you have by now?
Here is a summary of the current COVID-19 vaccination guidelines from NACI, for both children and adults who are at increased risk of serious illness and those who are not.
Victims identified as police reveal Nashville school shooter had drawn maps, done surveillance
The suspect in a Nashville school shooting on Monday had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance before killing three students and three adults in the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country growing increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.
From silicon to brain cells: How biology may hold the future of computers
As artificial intelligence software and advanced computers revolutionize modern technology, some researchers see a future where computer programmers leap from silicon to organic molecules.
Pope Francis the fashion icon? Detecting AI images reaches 'uncanny valley,' cybersecurity expert warns
After a few altered images of Pope Francis sporting a white puffer jacket convinced the online world the Catholic leader could be a part-time fashion icon, one expert warns the rapid improvement of AI could pose larger societal problems.
Freeland's budget to include grocery rebate for lower income Canadians, here's what else to expect Tuesday
The 2023 federal budget will include a one-time 'grocery rebate' for Canadians with lower incomes who may be struggling with the rising cost of food, CTV News has confirmed.
Gender-affirming care bans expanding, access being cut: U.S. laws now targeting transgender adults
In some U.S. states, proponents of gender-affirming care bans have argued for the last few years that minors are too young to make these medical decisions — but in 2023, legislative attempts to limit the health-care options for transgender youth have expanded to a new age group: adults.
Getting an extra consultation before surgery might not give you a better outcome: Canadian study
A new study that looked at more than 300,000 patients found that a medical consultation prior to a routine surgery wasn’t connected to a better surgical outcome, suggesting these consultations might not be necessary.
Quebec girl, 9, dies after snow fort collapses behind residence
A nine-year-old girl has died after a snow fort collapsed in a forest behind a rural Quebec home.