A new report shows more doctors have registered to practice in Lethbridge over the last year. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge gains 28 new physicians in one year

Apr 23, 2024 | 10:48 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A group overseeing doctors in Alberta is reporting progress with recruitment efforts.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) says, as of March 31, 2024, there were 303 fully registered physicians practicing in Lethbridge.

In the same period last year, the city had 275, marking an annual increase of 28 doctors, or 10.2 per cent.

As many residents have been placed on long wait lists for a physician, however, the AlbertaFindADoctor.ca website is still not reporting any doctors in Lethbridge who are currently accepting new patients.

For the entire South Health Zone, there has been an additional 35 physicians, bringing the region’s total to 600. That includes 503 who are listed as “specialists” and 97 who are “non-specialists.”

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The CPSA did not provide a breakdown for doctor specialties for individual communities or health zones.

Gains in doctor recruitment were also experienced elsewhere in the province.

Across Alberta, the CPSA says there are now 500 more physicians registered to practice, an increase of 4.5 per cent. That includes 192 more who specialize in family medicine.

Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf claims it was the largest increase in registered physicians in a decade.

Earlier this month, the Government of Alberta announced that new medical school programs are being created at the University of Lethbridge and Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie. The programs are expected to see as many as 100 new doctors graduate every year.

The one in Lethbridge should start accepting students in the 2025-26 academic year.

The full report on Physician Resources in Alberta can be found on the CPSA website.

READ MORE: New med school programs being created in Lethbridge & Grande Prairie

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