Nunavut spends millions on temporary doctors
$11.5M spent over 20 months on short-term contracts at Iqaluit hospital
CBC News
Posted: Mar 13, 2013 8:50 AM CT
Last Updated: Mar 13, 2013 9:38 AM CT
The Government of Nunavut spends $2,100 per 12-hour shift for emergency room doctors on short-term contracts at Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit, according to documents obtained by CBC News. (CBC)
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The Government of Nunavut spent $11.5 million on temporary doctors at the territory’s only hospital over a 20-month period, according to documents obtained by CBC News.
From April 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2012, 120 doctors were hired for locum contracts at the Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit. A locum is a temporary doctor who is flown in when the hospital is short-staffed
Documents obtained by CBC News through an Access to Information request show more than a dozen contracts were for a week or less. The shortest was for three days at $6,000. Another was for four days at $10,000.
A locum emergency room doctor is paid $2,100 for one 12-hour shift, a contract obstetrician earns $2,500 for a 24-hour shift, and doctors working eight hours in the clinic earn $1,200.
Besides their contracts the temporary doctors are also provided with return airfare and housing.
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