President's Letter
Dear Members,
The first round CaRMS numbers from last week are alarming. We have 42 unmatched family medicine residency positions in Alberta. In BC there are two; in Saskatchewan, none.
Government needs to act urgently. Years of underfunding and uncertainty have put a strain on primary care in this province and have resulted in a disincentive for learners looking to Alberta as a place to train.
Family medicine is in crisis. Out of the ashes of decimated family care a new generation of physicians will arise? The numbers say not.
The AMA is working on initiatives with government to build up primary care. We have been emphasizing that working on long-term transformation of primary care has value, but there are urgent needs today. Those urgent solutions have been repeatedly presented to government. The CaRMS numbers speak for themselves; time is running out.
You are always welcome to share your thoughts with me. You can email me via [email protected]. You can also comment on this letter on the AMA website.
Regards,
fred Rinaldi, MD, CCFP, FCFP, LLB, MBA, MPA(HSA), BCom
President, Alberta Medical Association
"Fate whispers to the warrior, 'You can not withstand the storm.' The warrior whispers back, 'I am the storm.'"