Our PC government is focused on results, not rhetoric—and the latest update to Nova Scotia’s Need a Family Practice Registry shows real progress.
As of November 1, there are 69,420 Nova Scotians on the registry, a drop of more than 8,000 since October. That means more families and individuals are now connected with a family doctor or nurse practitioner who can provide the care they need and deserve.
Behind these numbers is real action for recruitment:
- Training more doctors through the new Cape Breton University medical school, which will welcome 30 students each year
- Supporting internationally trained physicians through PACE (Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence)—helping qualified doctors earn licensure more quickly while meeting Nova Scotia’s high standards for safe, ethical practice.
- Opening more Dalhousie medical seats for Nova Scotians: five new first-year seats this fall, and five more in 2026-27—growing our homegrown talent pipeline.
Our PC government has also taken action to strengthen retention of physicians:
- Introducing a new Physician Retirement Fund—helping retain more doctors by supporting long-term financial security. The program provides annual provincial contributions toward physicians’ retirement savings, based on their years of service, employment status, and personal contributions.
- Investing in Health Homes—a team-based approach where family doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, social workers, and family practice nurses work together to deliver coordinated, patient-focused care. There are now over 119 Health Homes across Nova Scotia, and we continue to invest in expanding and strengthening them.
- Introducing a new fee-for-service model—giving family physicians a new payment option that rewards time, effort, and patient care. Doctors will now have compensation that reflects their hours worked, services provided, and the number of patients they serve, along with new grants and annual payments tied to patient volume.
The percentage of Nova Scotians on the registry is now 6.6%, and Nova Scotia Health will provide the next update in early December.
There’s more work to do, but the direction is clear: More Care, Faster.