New agreement to improve access to primary care, help recruitment

Release

Department of Health, Office of the Premier

November 20, 2025

FREDERICTON (GNB) – A new physician services agreement will strengthen New Brunswick's primary care system, incentivizing family physicians who choose to work in a collaborative care model and making the province more competitive on the national stage.

“This agreement is a major milestone in delivering on our health plan and putting people at the heart of health care,” said Premier Susan Holt. “By caring for the people who care for New Brunswickers, we are strengthening team-based family health care, improving access to services closer to home, and making our province a place where doctors want to build their careers.”

Members of the New Brunswick Medical Society have voted in favour of the four-year agreement. It covers all doctors working in the public health system and includes general economic increases of up to 12.5 per cent over the term of the agreement.

The agreement introduces new compensation models that reward physicians for patient attachment, timely access and participation in team-based practice.

While the agreement includes increased remuneration for all physicians, the largest increases are available for those who choose to work in a collaborative care clinic model.

“This collaborative care approach, which involves multiple health professionals working together to address patient needs, is being incentivized because it has proven to deliver more co-ordinated, timely, reliable access to primary care and enhance the overall experience for patients,” said Health Minister John Dornan.

Accountability measures, such as access within five days, patient attachment tracking and continuity of care, are meant to ensure compensation aligns with the experience New Brunswickers expect.

“Communities across New Brunswick need more health-care workers,” said Dornan. “This new agreement makes significant, necessary investments in pay and support for physicians, which will position the province to be competitive on a national level.”

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the province,” said society president Dr. Lise Babin. “The 2025-2029 Physician Services Agreement is a landmark investment of about $270 million that will strengthen our health-care system and improve New Brunswick’s capacity to support our physicians and their patients. This agreement will transform primary health care in New Brunswick through innovative payment models for physicians, targeted investments in support of collaborative care clinics, and clear accountability frameworks that will help ensure the increased funding is tied to patient attachment and timely access to care.”

Further details will be shared once the agreement has been signed.

 

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