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Niagara Falls Short 36 Doctors

The mayor says they need to get the ball moving, as they are in last place in Niagara

The City of Niagara Falls to look into increasing doctor recruitment incentives to $100,000 per doctor for next year.

Regional recruitment specialist Jill Croteau says the city is short 36 doctors.

She adds one answer comes from the province, in that it is working to increase the number of medical students training in Ontario.  "That is a start, but again it's a provincial funding issue, and that would come from their coffers, and not necessarily ours.  So, it's not something we have control over."

She says regional officials met last week to find ways to avoid competition among Niagara cities for doctors.

Mayor Jim Diodati says the city needs to move that ball forward, as it's in last place when it comes to doctor shortage.

The city's Director of Communications Dale Morton says part of the problem is that a doctor used to set up practice in a home.  "New graduates don't usually want to strike out on their own, and establish a practice by themselves, at the start.  They want that support of having experienced physicians around them, and having resources at their avail."

The city is also waiting on Dr. Jane Philpott, asked by Premier Ford to come up with a plan.

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