Hay River (Dec 18/06) - After years of frustrating doctor shortages, Hay River has finally decided to try its own long-term cure for the problem.

In its 2007 budget passed Dec. 11, town council agreed to investigate establishing a bursary to help one or more medical students with tuition.

Councillor Vince McKay, pictured outside H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital, spearheaded an idea that the Town of Hay River offer a bursary to medical students. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"In return, the student(s), once qualified, would practice medicine in the Town of Hay River for a period of five years," the budget reads.

The idea was spearheaded by Coun. Vince McKay, who noted the GNWT helps medical students with tuition all the time.

However, McKay said he is not aware of any other town in the NWT offering such a bursary.

The councillor explained such a bursary would be a long-term solution to the problem, since it would be at least five years before a student would be ready to practice.

"It's not going to help immediately with the problem," he said.

However, he noted it would be a secure solution once the students begin to graduate.

It would mean Hay River would have a supply of doctors, whether or not the territorial government and the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority are successful in their recruiting efforts.

The town is in contact with a town resident, currently in the first year of medical school in the South.

The student, whom McKay declined to identify, plans to become a general practitioner with extra skills in emergency response.

McKay said such a doctor would be ideal for Hay River and he hopes an agreement can be reached with the student.

"This is a start, I hope," he said, adding if a bursary is awarded and the idea works well, other students could be added.

The councillor said, ideally, students receiving the bursary would be from Hay River, but that is not a requirement.

It would take an estimated $130,000 to support a student through school, he added.

The bursary initiative was developed in consultation with the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority.

"I think it's an excellent idea," said Paul Vieira, the authority's chief executive officer.

Vieira noted that, when he worked in British Columbia, one municipality tried the same idea. "It proved to be very helpful."

The GNWT offers bursaries in a number of medical professions with stipulations the recipients have to work in the NWT for certain periods of time after graduation.

However, the GNWT agreements don't mention particular towns where the graduates have to work.

The health authority does the actual hiring of doctors in Hay River, and Vieira foresees a formal agreement to ensure a student supported by the town will have proper credentials before being hired.

Right now, Hay River has a full complement of five locum physicians. However, over the last year, the number has varied and has been as low as one for short periods of time.

The town will get one permanent doctor in February.