It is to report by Nov. 15. The mediators' findings are not binding, but Premier Ujjal Dosanjh has stated that if the panel finds the government's previous offer inadequate, it will be improved. BCMA President Marshall Dahl is optimistic. Out of this process should come a convincing plan to keep enough doctors in these rural areas, that will treat people equitably but also understand that some places are more remote than others and need better incentive programs. Rural physicians have been plagued with a chronic shortage of FPs, specialists and nurses, resulting in overwork and more physicians leaving for the US and elsewhere.
Patients are still on the move, with frequent transfers to neighbouring Alberta or to Vancouver.
Dahl says negotiations have been complicated by the unique political environment that has existed for the last 8 years during the NDP's reign in the province. It has been a fairly poisonous atmosphere, frankly, and it has taken a long time to bring things to resolution. In March, the BCMA signed a 1-year agreement with the government giving the physicians more money. The BCMA agreed not to condone any service withdrawals by physicians. When doctors around the province began doing just that, the BCMA was left trying to mediate a solution.