Access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner is one of the most important parts of a strong healthcare system. The latest update from Nova Scotia Health shows real progress — the Need a Family Practice Registry has dropped to 84,069 Nova Scotians, down by more than 3,800 people in just one month.
That means thousands more Nova Scotians have been connected to primary care, and we continue moving in the right direction.
More Doctors and Nurse Practitioners for Nova Scotia
Our PC team is working every day to recruit more family doctors, nurse practitioners, and other primary care providers. These efforts are helping more families get the care they need, when and where they need it.
With the new Cape Breton Medical School now open, even more doctors will be trained right here at home. That means more healthcare providers staying in Nova Scotia, helping shorten waitlists, and strengthening primary care in every community.
Recruiting and Retaining Primary Care Providers
We know Nova Scotians want action — and we are delivering. Our government has launched several common-sense initiatives to attract more doctors and ensure they stay here:
- PACE (Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence): Bringing internationally trained physicians into the system faster, so they can begin serving Nova Scotians sooner.
- Common-Sense Credentialing: Cutting red tape so doctors in good standing in other provinces and countries can practice in Nova Scotia without unnecessary delays.
- Cape Breton Medical School: Now open and training more doctors right here at home, with a focus on rural healthcare.
- Health Homes: A new model of care that supports physicians with a team-based approach, including nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and social workers, so providers can focus on patients.
- Physician Pension Plan: A new, dedicated plan to help retain doctors by giving them stability and a reason to build their careers here in Nova Scotia.
Together, these initiatives are strengthening both recruitment and retention — ensuring Nova Scotia has more doctors today and for the years to come.
Key Highlights
- 3,800 fewer people on the Need a Family Practice Registry in just one month
- 84,069 Nova Scotians currently on the registry — a meaningful drop
- Cape Breton Medical School open and training the next generation of doctors
- PACE program and credentialing reforms bringing more doctors into the system
- Health Homes and physician pension plan helping keep providers in Nova Scotia
Building a Stronger Healthcare System
We know there is more work to do. But the progress is real — fewer Nova Scotians are waiting for primary care, and with new training programs, expanded recruitment, and smarter investments, the future of healthcare in Nova Scotia is getting stronger every day.