New Brunswick College of Physicians and Surgeons reinstated five of the nine physicians, including a specialist and four family physicians, Secretary-General Dr. Ed Solenberg. Two other specialists are expected to be rehabilitated on Thursday, he said. A family doctor decided to leave the province. The college has not yet heard from the other GP about whether they intend to return to practice, Schollenberg said. When the doctors were fired, Schollenberg said doctors should set the example and also not endanger the health of their patients. “You can not encourage patients to get vaccinated if you do not get vaccinated yourself,” he said at the time. On Wednesday, he said he still believed this to be true. “I have a strong personal opinion on this,” he said. “But on the other hand, there are a lot of people who make those decisions and have a role to play, and there’s a point where you can’t stand anything else going on.” He attributed the policy reversal to a change of policy in the regional health authorities. “Late Friday afternoon, we received a note from someone there saying that they were rejecting all their demands. So we just realized that we could not justify the continued suspension of these doctors.” The college is still testing the vaccine for young doctors, said Dr. Ed Solenberg, but that could change. (CBC)
Doctors were suspended at midnight on November 30 at the request of hospitals, Schollenberg said, a move that left their patients trying to find care in a county that was already desperate for more doctors. The number of patients affected is unknown. Some 40,000 people are on New Brunswick’s Patient Connect waiting list for a primary care provider. Seven of the fired doctors worked for the Horizon Health Network, while the other two worked for the Vitalité Health Network, Schollenberg said. Horizon officials did not respond to a request for comment.

The change in government policy takes effect on April 11

The issue comes after New Brunswick announced on Friday that it was withdrawing its vaccination mandate for county government employees in vulnerable sectors, including healthcare, from April 11. Employees of the regional health authorities and the Extra-Mural / Ambulance NB who were put on unpaid leave because they did not provide proof of vaccination can return to work if they follow all the mitigation measures required by their employer, according to the Public Health instructions , until fully vaccinated. The change also applies to nursing homes and adult accommodation facilities licensed by the Ministry of Social Development. New Brunswick is the only county that has suspended any doctors for failing to provide proof of vaccination, according to Schollenberg. “We are the only province where every doctor has a hospital responsibility,” he said. “So the other provinces just said, ‘Doctors can’t go to the hospital.’ But most of them could work just fine. Well, we do not have that approach here. “If you can not go to the hospital, you can not work in your office.”

Doctors need to be vaccinated, says the medical company

Asked if young doctors wishing to practice in New Brunswick would need to provide proof of vaccination, Schollenberg replied: “Current documents do not need to be vaccinated. We are still checking on new applicants, but we have not made any changes there yet.” Asked if this could be changed, he replied: “Yes, but we have not yet. One thing at a time.” The New Brunswick Medical Society, which represents more than 2,000 physicians, “would support the continuation of the college’s current policy,” said President Dr. Mark McMillan. As healthcare providers, we care for the most vulnerable of our citizens – Mark MarkMillan, President of the New Brunswick Medical Society
The body continues to believe that all doctors should be vaccinated. “Whether or not it is a mandatory requirement, our position is that all New Brunswickers, including health care workers, should follow the scientific evidence that vaccination is the best protection against serious outcomes related to COVID-19 “. MacMillan said in a statement sent via email. “As healthcare providers we care about the most vulnerable of our citizens. If we are going to encourage people to get vaccinated to better protect themselves and others, we need to set an example.” He noted that 99.5 percent of doctors are vaccinated. “We have strongly encouraged unvaccinated doctors to follow the science that guided their careers and get vaccinated.” “There is” indisputable evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine is extremely effective in reducing morbidity and mortality rates, “he added.