Dr. Chris Sladden lives in Kamloops – but he doesn’t work here.
The dermatologist flies across the country to Newfoundland, where he sees patients for two weeks each month.
He says he earns more there than he would if he worked full time in BC.
“The value of medical dermatology has just lost its place in B.C.,” he argues.
Dr. Evert Tuyp, the President of the BC Section of Dermatology, believes more needs to be done to keep dermatologists in British Columbia.
“Come up with tangible solutions to deal with this problem,” he says.
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Despite the fact that dermatologist received a $20,000 pay raise from the provincial government in the last round of negotiations, a shortage in the interior looms. Kamloops is down to one dermatologist. As of December 31st, Prince George will apparently lose it’s dermatologist. There are no other practicing dermatologists in British Columbia outside Vancouver Island, the Okanagan, and the Lower Mainland.
Health Minister Terry Lake recently met with dermatologists about the shortage, and for his part, Dr. Sladden hopes a new deal will be cut that would compel him to work in this province.
– With files from Rumina Daya
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