Access to primary healthcare is essential, and the need in our community is urgent. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,000 “orphaned” patients – individuals who do not have a family physician. In addition, there are roughly 2,000 new community residents who have opted to stay with physicians from their former municipalities.
The Healthcare Loan Program
The Municipality of Meaford is taking action and making recommendations to expand access to care for everyone in our community. Here’s what we’re doing:
A new low interest loan program, the Healthcare Loan Program, is designed for family physicians to establish additional offices and space for their practice, allowing them to treat more patients.
Where funding is available, an incentive program could also be made available for new family physicians practicing in the community. As a type of Grant Funding, this would assist in the costs relating to their living expenses for the first year of moving to our community.
The Rental Assistance Program
Staff is also recommending a Rental Assistance Program for new practising Family Physicians that would be based on the following:
- The recipient must have their practice within the Municipality of Meaford
- The recipient must commit to practising Family Medicine for a period of time determined by Council
- Funding would be limited to twelve months and would be capped at an upset limit per month (for instance, home rental costs could fund up to 50% of their monthly home rent that is also capped at $1,500 per month)
- The Municipality could provide charitable Tax Receipts to those who wish to contribute to the Physician Recruitment and Retention Program