P.E.I. Faces Doctor Shortage Crisis
Leaders from Prince Edward Island’s Liberal and Green parties urge immediate reforms to retain physicians after three family doctors announced their departure, impacting 4,500 patients who will lose primary care access.
Doctors Cite Disrespect and Workload Pressures
Dr. Heather Austin, a family physician in Summerside since 2011, plans to close her practice and relocate to Nova Scotia in 2028. She describes an agreement between physicians, Health P.E.I., and the provincial government as making her job harder. “Health P.E.I. made it harder for me to do the work that I love,” Austin states.
The other departing doctors, Dr. Andrew MacLeod and Dr. Mitchell Stewart, have also notified Health P.E.I. of their exits from family medicine. Key concerns stem from the 2024 Physician Services Agreement, which includes workload targets. Tensions rose in early 2025 over a new operational guide, prompting the Medical Society of P.E.I. to threaten legal action.
Mediation resulted in a December 2025 memorandum of agreement offering two patient roster options: Model A with 1,600 patients or Model B with 1,300. However, some physicians object to required metrics tracking non-patient-facing tasks like administration and collaboration.
Opposition Calls for Urgent Action
Liberal Leader Robert Mitchell asserts that doctors feel disrespected by Health P.E.I. and the Progressive Conservative government. “I think health care on P.E.I. is in very bad shape,” he says. “The atmosphere is toxic.” Mitchell calls for officials to consult departing doctors and frontline workers to implement changes.
Green Party Leader Matt MacFarlane labels the government’s approach the “wrong path,” warning it deters new doctors and fails to retain current ones. He notes emotional discussions with physicians and surprise at Austin’s public stance, as many fear reprisal from Health P.E.I. and the Department of Health and Wellness. “Islanders are really seeing the damage that’s being caused to our physician community,” MacFarlane adds.
