Alberta commits extra $200M for family doctors

The Alberta government is committing 200-million-dollars to help family doctors keep the lights on. Dr. Paul Parks of the Alberta Medical Association and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange say the money will be spent over the next two years as the two sides work out a new funding deal for physicians.

Parks says the money is a critical stop-gap for doctors. He says family physicians are struggling to make ends meet under the current billing system, given rising costs for office and administration and inflation.

Parks and LaGrange said they are still working out the criteria for how the 200 million dollars will be distributed.

The money will come from a one-billion-dollar health funding deal finalized by LaGrange and her federal counterpart, Mark Holland.