Group representing Yukon physicians urges new premier to improve health care

The Yukon Medical Association says it hopes having a new premier will create a new opportunity to address the territory's health-care crisis.

According to the association's president, Dr. Derek Bryant, negotiations with the Yukon government on how to improve the health-care system and access to primary care haven't progressed as much as he'd like over the past few months.

Bryant is urging Premier Mike Pemberton to "shift the tone and direction of negotiations toward meaningful action."

"Our access to care is in crisis," Bryant said. "Our system is under strain. So this is a really important moment."

Bryant said 10,000 Yukoners are currently without access to a regular health-care provider. Bryant said his association has been bringing possible solutions to the table that could help alleviate some of the strain on the system, saying the focus is heavily on recruitment and retention.

"We are looking at things like physician recruitment incentives," Bryant said. "Things that will draw people into the territory — return of service agreements that would potentially have them put down roots and stay here long enough to establish a practice that would then ultimately lead to them staying here."

Bryant said the solutions being presented have been implemented — and are proving to be successful — in other jurisdictions, so he doesn't see why they wouldn't work in the Yukon.

"We currently have a system with worse access to care than many jurisdictions in Canada and that's a serious problem," he told CBC News.

Pemberton's office declined CBC's request for comment. Instead, a written statement was sent on behalf of Health Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee.

"Given the sensitive nature of ongoing negotiations, it would be inappropriate and counterproductive to discuss details publicly at this time," the statement read.

The statement went on to acknowledge "the vital contributions of all health-care providers in the Yukon" and working groups that have been meeting regularly.

"Their continued efforts are focused on achieving a resolution that is fair and reasonable for all involved. We look forward to reconvening at the end of the month, as agreed by all parties, to continue these critical negotiations," the statement read.

Both the Yukon Party and the NDP were quick to add their comments to the Yukon Medical Association's calls.

"We see a worsening state of access to health care — which the Yukon Medical Association refers to as a deepening health-care crisis, and we agree with that characterization," said Brad Cathers, the Yukon Party's health critic. "People are seeing a worsening situation when it comes to their ability to access a family doctor.

"We've seen family doctors leaving the territory or closing down practices, specifically citing a lack of support for family medicine by the current government."

Yukon NDP Leader Kate White said physicians and doctors are in scarce supply.

"I don't understand why a government wouldn't want to work meaningfully with a group that represents them," she said.

"I think the [Yukon Medical Association] reaching out publicly, saying that they're concerned, is really them waving the red flag — them saying, 'Look, it can't go on like this.'"