Family Doctors Close Practices Due to Lack of Support from Government

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition is concerned to see the family doctor shortage made worse by the recent closure of two more family practices. Worse, it is clear that this is the direct result of an ongoing lack of support by the territorial Liberal government for family medical practices, and failure to act on health care infrastructure needs.

In a letter to colleagues dated January 23, 2025, the two doctors make it clear that they made significant efforts to find a suitable new location for their practices, including lobbying the Yukon Government, but the government didn’t help them.

“The closure of these family practices results in hundreds of Yukoners losing their family doctor,” said Health and Social Services Critic Brad Cathers. “This out-of-touch Liberal government continues to neglect our health care system, and the two doctors who are closing their family practices specifically pointed to a lack of support for family medicine by this government.”

According to the Yukon Medical Association as reported by local media, in the past 18 months, four medical practices have closed in the territory.

“This Liberal government has created an unwelcoming environment for family doctors, including at times failing to pay their bills in a reasonable amount of time, underfunding our hospitals, and neglecting health care infrastructure needs,” added Cathers. “The government needs to change course and start working with family physicians to properly support them and their patients, and to improve recruitment and retention of family doctors.”

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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Media Director
(867) 689-7874