The provincial government and Doctors of BC have joined forces to try to lure physicians into rural areas of the province before their careers even begin.
20 scholarships of $5,000 will be given to medical students each year that show interest is setting up practice outside of major centres.
“If we can get to these physicians in training” Health Minister Terry Lake said “And really encourage those interested in rural practice with these scholarships, we think that will translate into more doctors in rural areas”
“It goes along with the philosophy of training doctors in different areas of the province.” Lake added “We think that it attaches them to all areas of the province, rather than just the larger centres.”
He acknowledged that practicing medicine in rural areas; far away from specialists can be very different for doctors compared to their city living colleagues, but says this is just another tool to try to fill the gaps and spread the talent around the province.
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