MITTIMATALIK/POND INLET - The federal and territorial governments are seeking ways to get more doctors to work in Nunavut. The effort seeks to curb the shortage in communities like Pond Inlet, which has not had a full-time doctor for the last two years.

Dr. Patricia DeMaio moved to the community in 1999. She regularly visited Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay to do clinics. In 2002, she gave up going to the other communities due to family commitments and changing flight schedules. Instead she went to Clyde River once every four to five weeks.

In 2008, the doctor left Pond Inlet to work in Iqaluit. Since that time, a visiting doctor has been going to Pond Inlet one week every month.

"They never had a full-time doctor before her," said Dr. Sandy MacDonald, director of medical affairs for the Department of Health and Social Services.

In the legislature in late March, MLA for Tununiq James Arvaluk asked Health Minister Tagak Curley if the position had been cut. Curley told Arvaluk and fellow members in the legislative assembly that the position had been transferred to Iqaluit.

MacDonald said the department is looking at getting one full-time doctor to work in each community in Nunavut including Pond Inlet, Pangnirtung, Iglulik, Baker Lake and Cape Dorset. He said he is currently working on a proposal to fill these positions.

"The proposal is in the works, I would like to do it as soon as possible but there are fiscal realities to get the funding for this," said MacDonald.

MacDonald said there are logistical issues when it comes to bringing a full-time doctor to a community. Once the doctor has an office, the question then becomes where the doctor will live. Last year, a full-time doctor was found to work in Arviat. The doctor had to live in a hotel as it took months to find an apartment.

Federal Minister of Health and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq announced May 10 the federal government would spend nearly $7 million to expand the Northern and Remote Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Manitoba.

There will be 15 additional residency positions phased in over the next four years. One family doctor will serve his or her two-year residency in Nunavut.

"We are hoping by establishing residencies in remote and isolated communities, the medical students who have completed their schooling will be able to see firsthand, practise and learn from other physicians within Nunavut," said Aglukkaq.

The program at the University of Manitoba concentrates on Northern and aboriginal health issues. Aglukkaq said there is the potential for more than one student to do their residency in the territory.

The university has already established contacts within the medical community in Rankin Inlet. This is the first community where the university has started to look and where they might send residents.

"Our experience is that our residents really enjoy working in Nunavut," said Dr. Joanna Lynch, stream lead for the residency program at the university. She said the intention is to get students doing training in the North with the hope they will decide to remain there to work.

Other communities are also being considered and the list could change, Lynch said.

An undisclosed portion of the funding will go increasing the use of telehealth and telehealth education capabilities for patients and doctors. Aglukkaq said the use of technology has to be maximized.

MacDonald was in Winnipeg for the announcement and was in meetings to finalize the details of the arrangement.

Residents in Pond Inlet will have to wait and see if their community will get a full-time doctor again. MacDonald said it would be good for that community and others to have regular doctor coverage.

"I hope we are going to be able to do that," he said.