Physician recruitment going well

Photo from NCI Visuals Online

By Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg council heard good news Wednesday about physician recruitment.

While Dr. Roshion Sabeeha Ishaque's joining the Cobourg Clinic was announced last month, Councillor Randy Barber – who sits on the county's Physician Recruitment Committee – said that may be just the beginning.

“I can tell you Paula Mason, the recruiter, has really done an exemplary job and we have 26 potential doctors in the pipeline at various stages of development. So hopefully in the next little while, I should be able to make some more good news for everyone, being able to announce new doctors,” Barber said.

“One of the key things – we have been paying approximately $100,000 to a doctor to come to Northumberland County. For that, they commit to staying five years and to building a practice of at least 1,000 patients – I am sure most of them will be larger. Should they leave before five years, they are liable to pay back the entire $100,000.

“I will be going out to the municipalities in the next little while to look at some ideas about fundraising,” he added.