Nova Scotians 'deserve way better' than primary care alternatives, says Doctors N.S.

Nova Scotiansneeding medical care took advantage of an alternative to a family practice visit 76,316 times last month a figurethe association representingphysicians in the province is meetingwith lukewarm praise.

Dr. Gehad Gobran, president of Doctors Nova Scotia, said thosepatients deserve more than the "episodic, siloed care" offered bythose services, which can include appointments with pharmacists or virtual care.

"It's goodas a tool of health when there is not enough family physicians, but is not for the long run," said Gobran, a family physician in Halifax.

"They deserve way better than this. They deserve a family physician to quarterback their health and their care."

More than half of those 76,316 appointments werecarried out by pharmacists or at 25 community pharmacy primary care clinics, according to the latest numbers on the provincial health authority's Action for Health website.

The pharmacy clinics are part of a pilot project scheduled to run until Sept. 30 offering assessment and prescribing for minor ailments, including strep throat, pinkeye andurinary tract infections. They also administer flu andCOVID-19 shots, plus other vaccines and injections.

There were also more than 4,000 visits to primary care clinics thatoffer same- or next-day visits,and offer some weekend hours.

Virtual care accounted for about 12,000 visits, either from home or adjacent to the emergency department at 15 hospitals across the province.

160,234 Nova Scotians in need of a doctor

Access to basic or primary care is a pressing issue for at least 16 per cent of Nova Scotians. As of June 1, there were160,234 people signed up on the Need aFamily Practice Registry.

Politicians, includingPremier Tim Houston before his party took power, have used the registry numbers as a barometerfor the health of the system. Maria Alexiadis, a family doctorand the province's lead for primarycare transformation, disagrees withthat characterization.

"In my mind, [it's]a false number because it's not that all these people on the registry have no access to care,"Alexiadis told CBC News recently. "There are many appointments being made. There are many places where they can get access to care."

She defended the primary care being provided in new waysas "good care" she was "pretty proud" of.

"We're creating some temporary measures in order to allow for care to continue," said Alexiadis. "The ultimate goal is having a health home for everyone."

Gobransaid he seesthe current measures asways to provide some care, rather than proper care.

"[People]get the help, but thenwhat after?Who is following this patient after?" said Gobran.

"How about their health in general? They need a family physician for sure."

Asked how long these measures might be around, Alexiadisresponded she didn't think they would be needed much longer.

"We're not talking like 10 years," she said."I'm talking a couple of years."