Rural doctors angry with B.C. proposal

British Columbia doctors are reacting with anger to the latest proposal from the provincial government.

Yesterday, the B.C. government said it was offering the doctors a package of incentives worth nearly $60 million but they'd have to give up their isolation allowance, and sign personal services contracts with their regional health boards.

But the British Columbia Medical Association says doctors in rural B.C. don't want to give up their existing isolation allowance which they've had since 1978 in favour of contracts with terms they don't understand.

"The government has an agreement with the medical association," said Dr. Marshall Dahl, of the BCMA. "It's torn up that agreement. And it's made a serious mistake that's really angered the rural doctors."

Health Minister Mike Farnworth says he wants the doctors to see the details.

"I think they need to see how it will benefit each one of them individually, and then they will understand it is a fair and reasonable package," he said.

The government is offering a guarantee that no doctor will make any less money than before.

For example, officials say, a specialist in rural B.C. now making $346,000 a year would get another $40,000 in incentives.

But the personal services contracts doctors would have to sign with regional boards would stipulate working conditions and ensure no more walkouts like those now disrupting medical service in more than a dozen B.C. towns.

Dahl says it's a mistake to assume this is just about money the big issue is working conditions for doctors in B.C.'s far flung rural communities.