Nunavut Family Physician Residents Project (NUNAFAM)

Fact Sheet
February 2011

News Release: Harper Government Announces Funding to Support New Family Medicine Positions and a Family Medicine Training Centre in Canada's North

In response to Nunavut's ongoing challenges to recruit and retain family physicians, the Government of Canada will provide funding to support up to 8 new family medicine residencies in select communities in Nunavut.

Funding for the Nunavut Family Physician Residents Project (NunaFam) project will provide family medicine residents with a structured and longer-term educational rotation in Nunavut. This extended exposure will encourage residents to stay and work in Nunavut after the completion of their medical training. While based in Iqaluit, the eight residents will conduct visits to several communities including those in the Qikiqtalluq (Baffin) Region.

The NunaFam Project will also establish a Family Practice Training Centre based at Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit, which currently serves as the main referral centre for the Qikiqtalluq Region of Nunavut. The Training Centre will provide additional educational and academic networking support for physicians practicing in Nunavut, as well as being a focal training point for residents in this project.

Nunavut will work with Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador to carry out this Project. Since the Family Medicine Training Program at Memorial University was established in 1973 with the objective to train family physicians to work in rural areas of Canada, it has had considerable success in preparing graduates to enter rural practice. This collaboration will enhance support for family physicians working in Nunavut on an ongoing basis and will encourage their continuing medical practice in the Territory.

NunaFam will help to support the Government of Nunavut's health human resource strategy of creating an environment of sustainable medical practice and better health outcomes for the people of Nunavut by improving access to high quality primary care.

Today's announcement falls under the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resources Strategy. This strategy supports and facilitates innovation in health human resources to help bring about an adequate supply of health care providers while promoting optimal working conditions for Canada's health workforce.

Nunavut will be provided up to $4.9 million to support up to eight new family medicine residents in collaboration with Memorial University's Faculty of Medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador