The FPs4BC program was developed to attract and retain family physicians in British Columbia. The program provides funding to help newly qualified doctors establish themselves in full-service family practice in BC communities with shortages.

To be eligible, physicians must be:

• licensed to practice in British Columbia
• have completed family practice residency training in the past ten years, and
• willing to participate in the Chronic Disease Management program.

Each qualifying physician is eligible for a maximum of $100 000. Within the maximum allowance, physicians can include any of the following options in any mix that meets their needs:

• student debt repayment – up to $40 000
• funding to set up or join a group practice (e.g., leasehold improvements, capital costs, costs for a practice mentor or moving costs, and with consideration for solo for remote or rural areas) – up to $40 000 per physician
• a new practice supplement for the first 26 weeks of practice of $2000/week (total $52 000).

A bonus of $1500 will be provided to those physicians who obtain full hospital privileges in the designated community.

For more information on the FPs4BC program, contact:
E-mail: fps4bc@gov.bc.ca
Tel: 250 952-1925
Web: www.primaryhealthcarebc.ca
For a list of designated communities: www.health.gov.bc.ca/phc/resource_fps.html