The new head of the association that represents Nova Scotia doctors says the ongoing contract talks with the government are critical to the future of health care in the province. Doctors Nova Scotia president Dr. Colin Audain says negotiations that began before Christmas are moving toward a final phase, although it’s too early to say whether a deal will be reached within days or weeks.

Fifteen percent of Nova Scotians are officially waiting for a family doctor or nurse practitioner—the highest tally the province has seen since Nova Scotia Health launched its Need a Family Practice Registry in 2018. As of June 1, 2023, there are 148,431 people on the province’s primary care waitlist. That’s an uptick of more than 3,400 since last month, and a jump of 53,500 from this time a year ago. 

The ongoing contract negotiations between the Nova Scotia government and physicians are critical to improving the health-care system, the newly installed head of the province's doctor association said Tuesday. Talks that began last Christmas are moving to a final phase, Dr. Colin Audain said in an interview. The last contract expired March 31. "I think we are getting toward the end of that process, but whether that's days or weeks I can't say for sure," said Audain, an anesthesiologist at the Victoria General Hospital and the Halifax Infirmary.