To encourage physicians to practice in rural areas, various programs and incentives are offered by Northern Health and the government of British Columbia.
Recruitment incentive
This is a one-time incentive for physicians recruited to fill current or pending vacancies:
- Prince George: $15,000
- All other Northern Health communities: $20,000
- Funding is pro-rated for physicians working less than full-time.
Relocation incentive
One-time incentive for physicians who agree to serve two years in a specific rural community:
- Relocation stipend as follows: $9,000 if moving within BC, $12,000 if moving within Canada, and $15,000 if moving from out of country.
- This incentive is not available to physicians moving to Northern Health from a British Columbia community where a recruitment and retention agreement is already in place.
Rural retention program
- Premium on fee-for-service MSP billings. Amount varies per community.
- Annual flat fee. Amount varies per community
Rural Continuing Medical Education
- Physicians may be eligible for funding opportunities to update and enhance medical skills and credentials required for rural practice.
Isolation allowance fund
- Physicians may be eligible for funding in communities with fewer than four physicians and no hospital.
Rural emergency enhancement fund
- Funding for fee-for-service physicians who collaboratively provide emergency services on a regular, scheduled basis.
Rural education action plan
- Training opportunities for physicians in rural practice
- Rural practice experience for medical students and residents
Northern and isolation travel assistance outreach program
- Travel assistance for visiting physicians to provide medical services in eligible rural and isolated communities.
Rural GP locum program
- Assistance for family practitioners to take subsidized periods of leave from their practices to pursue continuing medical education, vacation, etc.
- Provides locum physicians with practice opportunities in northern British Columbia.
Rural GP anesthesia locum program
- Assistance for family practitioners with enhanced anesthesia skills to take subsidized periods of leave from their practices to pursue continuing medical education, vacation, etc.
- Provides locum physicians with practice opportunities in northern British Columbia.
Rural specialist locum program
- Assistance for specialists to take subsidized periods of leave from their practices to pursue continuing medical education, vacation, etc.
- Provides locum physicians with practice opportunities in northern British Columbia.
Emergency on-call incentive
- Physicians may be eligible for extra payments for providing emergency on-call services after hours, as per the Medical On-Call Availability Program.
More information on rural programs and incentives