Recruiting specialists not easy, Kennedy admits

Newfoundland and Labrador's health minister admits it will be difficult to replace 14 salaried specialists who are protesting government's latest offer, but says their replacements will be found.

"We're confident that we will as best we can continue to find specialists," Jerome Kennedy told reporters Monday, reacting to developments involving 14 specialists who have submitted their resignations.

The physicians feel they have dramatically high workloads but have salaries that are far outpaced by their fee-for-service colleagues. Many of the physicians are paid salaries because they work intensively with smaller numbers of patients.

The physicians' resignations take effect in February.

Kennedy said while it will be hard to find replacements in time, government will do its best.

"Our ongoing recruitment initiatives are working," said Kennedy, adding that between 20 and 25 specialists have been recruited in the province over the last two years.

"We're confident that we will as best we can continue to find specialists. There are certain groups out there, as you're all aware, that are difficult rheumatologists, for example and we will strive hard to replace the individuals who have resigned," Kennedy said.

"But again, I must emphasize they resigned. They weren't fired."

Eastern Health is expected to have more details later this week on how it will respond to the resignations, Kennedy said.

Jobs for the resigning physicians have been posted, and national recruiting ads are being planned.

The medical association said the loss of those specialists will cripple key areas of the medical system.