B.C. finds more cash to get doctors into rural areas

The B.C. government is putting extra money into a program aimed at encouraging more doctors to work in rural areas.

Health Minister George Abbott said Friday the new program replaces a flat-rate system, and will see relieving doctors making between $700 and $1,000 a day, depending on their skills and how isolated the rural community is.

Abbott said the extra $800,000 is on top of $2.6 million already provided to the locum program, which provides funding for doctors to take over the practices of other doctors temporarily.

Other changes will also encourage more specialists to join the locum program in 18 communities across B.C., including Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Nelson, Port Alberni, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, Sechelt, Terrace and Williams Lake.

The doctors getting relieved by the doctors on the locums can use the time for holidays or for retraining. The changes are being made in partnership with the B.C. Medical Association.