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  • Doctors’ court challenge to be heard on June 12
    05/08/2013
    The President of the New Brunswick Medical Society advised the public today that an application to the court has officially been filed with the Court of Queen’s Bench in Fredericton. It is scheduled to be heard on June 12.

  • Globe & Mail weighs in on doctors' dispute with Alward Government
    05/07/2013
    "Making a mockery of collective bargaining and refusing to negotiate in good faith is not leadership and it’s not good governance. It’s lazy and it’s a travesty of public policy-making."

  • Canada’s doctors to Alward Government: “respect agreements negotiated in good faith”
    05/01/2013
    The Presidents of the Canadian Medical Association and every provincial medical association in the country sent a letter to New Brunswick Premier David Alward on Wednesday.

  • New Brunswick’s doctors seek court ruling
    04/24/2013
    The President of the New Brunswick Medical Society advised the public today that doctors in New Brunswick will challenge the Alward Government’s cut to Medicare in court.

  • CMA and NBMS welcome statement by federal minister: Time to talk about health care
    04/12/2013
    Ottawa, April 11, 2013 - The presidents of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) today welcomed comments by Keith Ashfield, the federal fisheries and oceans minister and regional minister for New Brunswick, who is calling for a national discussion on health care.

  • New Brunswick needs a long-term plan for health
    04/08/2013
    Health care sustainability is one of the top issues across the country. New Brunswick is no different from other provinces in that respect. New Brunswick’s doctors are part of a movement led by the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association, launched years ago, calling for transformational change in...

  • The Medicare Cap
    04/04/2013
    The Alward Government recently announced a 5% cut to the medical services budget, or Medicare, totalling $18.8 million for the coming fiscal year. It also announced that the Medicare budget will be capped at the new lower level ($425 million) for two years.

  • Alward Government axes Medical Student Summer Program
    04/02/2013
    The Alward Government formally advised physicians across the province late last week that they have decided to cancel a program designed to encourage medical students to stay in New Brunswick after they graduate.

  • Statement on the Provincial Budget
    03/26/2013
    Today's Provincial Budget cut medical services, or Medicare, by $20 million in the coming fiscal year. It is then capped at that level for the next two years. Cabinet approved this cut while still at the negotiating table with doctors.

  • Attention, south-bound New Brunswickers!
    03/05/2013
    For many New Brunswickers staring out their windows and cringing at weather forecasts, the allure of heading South for a week is very attractive.

  • An open letter to our patients
    01/25/2013
    Dear Patient,

  • Doctors Ask Government to Explain Comments
    01/18/2013
    New Brunswick's doctors formally invited the Alward Government to attend their Board meeting on Saturday, January 26. The Premier and Minister of Health will be asked to explain recent comments made to reporters about physicians.  

  • New Brunswick physicians announce successful EMR vendor
    01/17/2013
    Fredericton, NB (01/17/2013): The New Brunswick Medical Society is pleased to announce the selection of Intrahealth as its provider of electronic medical records under a new program supported by the federal and provincial governments. This selection follows a rigorous procurement process conducted by Velante, a subsidiary of the Medical Society.

  • Another look at health care costs
    01/17/2013
    In past months, we’ve heard a lot about how much our health care system costs, and the facts are the facts. Health care costs more per capita in New Brunswick than the national average. The government has set a price tag on this discrepancy: over $200 million could be saved...

  • Statement on Medicare audit process
    01/15/2013
    New Brunswick's doctors were disappointed by the Minister of Health's recent comments concerning the Medicare audit process. The Medicare Fee Schedule is 253 pages long, is very complex, and is often subject to interpretation. We work daily with Medicare to ensure that our 21st-century care is interpreted correctly in this...

  • Statement on Medicare audit process
    01/15/2013
    New Brunswick's doctors were disappointed by the Minister of Health's recent comments concerning the Medicare audit process. The Medicare Fee Schedule is 253 pages long, is very complex, and is often subject to interpretation. We work daily with Medicare to ensure that our 21st-century care is interpreted correctly in this...

  • Statement from the NBMS on the Auditor General's Report
    12/04/2012
    The Auditor General published her Annual Report today, which focused to a large extent on payments to physicians. We welcome public scrutiny of physician payments, particularly when they are provided in context.

  • NBMS Statement on RHA By-laws
    12/03/2012
    The New Brunswick Medical Society wrote the leadership of both Regional Health Authorities late last week to advise them that after months of work, we still cannot support their revised by-law documents. We have reached this impasse because of our concerns about required documents which affect physicians, our rights to...

  • Statement from the New Brunswick Medical Society - PET Scans
    11/30/2012
    We have recently learned that the two positron emission tomography (PET) scanners in New Brunswick are both rationing scans to save money. Saint John is running a waitlist for patients in an attempt to not exceed their 'quota'; Moncton has already reached their limit for the province's fiscal year.

  • Statement on the action plan for equitable health services
    11/30/2012
    Today, the Minister of Health announced the government's plan to improve access to health care for New Brunswickers. The creation of a number of provincial programs, the integration of several existing but disparate services, and the addition of several others is good news for patients.

  • NBMS and Canadian Cancer Society call for legislation banning youth from using tanning beds
    10/30/2012
    The New Brunswick Medical Society is joining the Canadian Cancer Society New Brunswick in calling for a provincial ban on indoor tanning for youth.

  • Dr. Jean Soucie's call for moderation in the language debate
    10/24/2012
    Dear Editor:

  • Statement about the release of Dr. Cleary's recommendations concerning the shale gas industry
    10/16/2012
    New Brunswick's doctors welcome the public release of our Chief Medical Officer of Health’s recommendations concerning shale gas development in our province. We hope that this report stimulates government thinking on the regulation of shale gas development and the concerns of New Brunswickers about our water, air, and land.

  • New Brunswick doctors elect new leader
    10/01/2012
    (09/30/2012)—New Brunswick physicians named a new president on Saturday, confirming the nomination of Dr. Robert Desjardins of Bathurst at their annual general meeting in Saint John, New Brunswick. Dr. Desjardins takes over from out-going president Dr. Robert Rae, an ear nose and throat surgeon from Saint John, who has completed...

  • Statement from New Brunswick's doctors on the September 26 Cabinet shuffle
    09/27/2012
    New Brunswick's doctors note the Cabinet shuffle of September 26, 2012. We congratulate the Honourable Ted Flemming on his appointment as Minister of Health. We also look forward to working with the Honourable Dorothy Shephard in her new portfolio of Healthy and Inclusive Communities.

  • NBMS Statement on the dismissal of Dr Jim Parrott from the Progressive Conservative Caucus
    09/21/2012
    On September 20, Dr. Jim Parrott was removed from the government caucus for speaking out about a variety of health issues. We believe his opinions were prompted in part by the release of our submission to the Minister of Health on the next four year health plan.

  • New Brunswick’s health care system is about to be hit by a perfect storm
    09/05/2012
    Our health care budget has doubled in the last ten years. In the time it takes to read my words, taxpayers will spend $10,000 on health care. And while this is happening, the federal government is committed to a plan that will see health transfers to New Brunswick decrease in...

  • NB PharmaCheck™ medication review program
    08/20/2012
    The New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program (NBPDP) will begin accepting claims for the NB PharmaCheck™ medication review program beginning June 1, 2012. The program’s goal and objectives are as follows:

  • Primary Care Renewal Good News for Patients: New Brunswick’s doctors
    08/08/2012
    (Fredericton, NB) - The President of the New Brunswick Medical Society participated in a major announcement today about primary care renewal, calling it good news for patients.

  • Call For Applications For Diabetes Strategy Innovation Fund
    08/02/2012
    A Comprehensive Diabetes Strategy for New Brunswickers was released in June 2011. The New Brunswick government has created an innovation fund to support healthcare providers to improve care to persons living with diabetes.  This fund provides seed money, or start-up money, to initiate practical, quality improvement projects that directly improve...

  • Statement on the Voluntary Suspension of New Brunswick's Organ Donation Program
    07/12/2012
     

  • Whooping Cough in NB
    06/29/2012
    New Brunswick is currently experiencing an outbreak of whooping cough (Pertussis).  Those who have not been vaccinated during the last five years and are in close, regular contact with children younger than one are encouraged to contact their usual immunization provider and arrange for the vaccine to be administered.

  • The New Brunswick Medical Society regarding the New Brunswick Health Plan
    06/20/2012
    On June 13, the Minister of Health announced a series of public consultations around the province to inform the creation of the next provincial health plan.

  • An open letter from the medical associations of Canada to Premier Dalton McGuinty
    05/16/2012
    Dalton McGuintyPremier of OntarioLegislative BuildingQueen's ParkToronto, ON M7A 1A1

  • Patients: Make Health Care a Budget Priority
    03/22/2012
    (Fredericton, NB) - New Brunswick patients believe that their doctor is working hard and that recruiting more physicians should take priority over health care cutbacks in the next provincial budget. These are the results of a survey of New Brunswick patients conducted earlier this month by the New Brunswick Medical Society.