It is anticipated that, because of the new Physician Agreement and C/AFP Agreement, the total annual investment in physician services will grow by at least $180 million over four years.
The Physician Agreement was ratified by 85% of voting members and the C/AFP Agreement was ratified by 85% of voting C/AFP physicians and 11 of 12 departments. In total, 54% (PA) and 67% (C/AFP) of members eligible to vote on the Physician Agreement cast a vote.
The new agreements are retroactive to April 1, 2023, and will end on March 31, 2027.
Interest-based negotiation
Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) and the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) initiated interest-based negotiations to secure the best possible agreements for physicians and the health-care system. Instead of the typical win-lose outcome of positional negotiation, interest-based negotiation offered the possibility of a win-win outcome, where both parties are able to achieve their goals – in this case, obtaining the best possible outcome for both DNS members and the provincial health-care system. The result has been improved consultation and better relationships among the partners.
Member engagement
To inform the negotiations priorities, DNS conducted an extensive member outreach strategy, including a member survey, targeted group meetings, 15 meetings with physicians in academic departments in Halifax and a series of meetings in communities across the province throughout October and November 2022.
Click here to read summary reports from the community meeting and member survey.
Economic report
As part of the negotiations preparations, DNS developed an environmental scan of the economic factors that influence Nova Scotia’s health-care system. Among other things, this report analyzes Nova Scotia’s physician compensation relative to that of other provinces.
Click here to read the report.
Have questions?
Contact your physician advisor to discuss issues that are important to you.
Noelle Moulaison (Zone 1-Western)
noelle.moulaison@doctorsns.com
Ryan Brown (Zones 2-Northern and 3-Eastern)
ryan.brown@doctorsns.com
Jennifer Girard (Zone 4-Central)
jennifer.girard@doctorsns.com
Kim Oakley (team lead)
kim.oakley@doctorsns.com