“All across Canada, we are seeing a shortage of health care workers, including here in Alberta. To help address this shortage, we launched the Health Workforce Strategy in 2023, aimed at retaining and recruiting health care workers in Alberta.
“I’m pleased to see that, according to the latest quarterly statistics from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, our strategy is producing results: the number of physicians in Alberta has increased by almost 500 from the second quarter of 2023. This is an increase of 4.4 per cent from the same time period last year, and is the highest growth rate in the second quarter over the last decade. This means Alberta is now home to 11,756 physicians, the most we have ever had.
“At a time when rural Albertans are experiencing difficulty in accessing physician care, I am especially pleased to see significant year-over-year growth in the number of practising physicians in rural Alberta. The Central Zone had the fastest growth, with an increase of 59 physicians from the same period last year, for a 7.5 per cent increase, followed by the South Zone, with an increase of 31 physicians, a 5.4 per cent increase.
“This increase is incredibly positive, but we’re not stopping our efforts to attract more physicians. As part of the Health Workforce Strategy, we are working to increase the number of spaces in our province’s medical schools, residency positions and training opportunities for international medical graduates.
“Additionally, work continues with the Alberta Medical Association to finalize the family physician compensation model to encourage more physicians to practise in Alberta. When it’s fully implemented, we expect it will make Alberta a national leader in recruiting and retaining primary care physicians.
“We are also working with Alberta Health Services, health care providers and communities all over the province to strengthen our health care system so it can properly support our physicians and overall health care workforce.
“Our physicians and health care workers do excellent work every day, and I’m thankful that this vital work is being shared by more professionals.”