To help ease the family doctor shortage throughout the municipality, Chatham-Kent councilors have approved the creation of a reserve to assist with physician recruitment incentives.
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South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci entered the motion Monday to establish the reserve, allocating $140,000 annually or $420,000 in total for the remainder of the 2024-27 multi-year budget.
It will be funded initially by a transfer of $420,000 from the strategic reserve, with base funding considered by the next council in the 2028-31 budget process.
Ceccacci, who thanked West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan with assisting with the motion, said the main goal is to “get us in the game” as a municipality.
“Many other communities around us are creating programs as such, to invest in their community to attract physicians,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we really need family doctors.”
The motion asked that the incentive reserve be made available to primary care organizations and health teams in Chatham-Kent for newly established primary care physicians, for up to $25,000 per recruit or, in exceptional circumstances, directly to new physicians who establish practices in Chatham- Kent outside of the primary care organizations.
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The reserve will also be available for the organizations to apply for up to $20,000 once every five years, as a matched grant to support capital funding or new builds or renovations that are for the express purpose of expanding clinical space to accommodate new physician offices.
Any agreements would facilitate the transfer of funds, as well as allow for a process for partial pay-back of physician grants for services of less than five years.
Harrigan said the grant program will be transparent and show if any improvements are needed.
“Based on what’s happening in the community, what we’re seeing, we can make some modifications,” she said.
Fostering a welcoming climate where new physicians feel supported is key, Harrigan said.
“We want you to stay in Chatham-Kent. We’ve got lots of people to help you build a really great practice,” she said.
A future report to council will outline alternative spending options for the reserve, such as family residence training, student loan forgiveness and learner engagement.
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