Rural programs and incentives

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.

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.

• Premium on fee-for-service MSP billings. Amount varies per community.
• Annual flat fee. Amount varies per community

• Physicians may be eligible for funding opportunities to update and enhance medical skills and credentials required for rural practice.

• Physicians may be eligible for funding in communities with fewer than four physicians and no hospital.

• Funding for fee-for-service physicians who collaboratively provide emergency services on a regular, scheduled basis.

• Training opportunities for physicians in rural practice
• Rural practice experience for medical students and residents

• Travel assistance for visiting physicians to provide medical services in eligible rural and isolated communities.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Physicians may be eligible for extra payments for providing emergency on-call services after hours, as per the Medical On-Call Availability Program.

• Rural Programs
• Rural Coordination Center of BC