Quick Facts:

* This agreement is consistent with government’s 2014 bargaining
mandate and, at the same time, addresses recruitment and retention
challenges and the health-care issues that matter most to British
Columbians.
* The Physician Master Agreement covers compensation, additional
patient services, new doctors, as well as overhead costs.
* The agreement provides funding increases for compensation and
incentives of approximately 5.5% ($216 million) by the end of the five-
year term.
* The agreement also provides $143 million toward recruiting new
physicians, addressing retention challenges in rural and remote areas,
facilitating engagement of physicians in health authority facilities,
and improving access for patients to family doctors and primary health-
care services.
* Similar to other agreements reached under the Economic Stability
Mandate in the public sector, government will assess the ability to
increase physician compensation if the economy performs better than
forecasted.
* Most physicians are independent contractors. Their services are paid
for through fees, contractual arrangements and other incentive programs
negotiated in this agreement.
* Physicians are also typically responsible for the overhead costs
associated with operating their practices.