A shopping list of family doctors' services

The College of Family Physicians of Canada's Committee on Patterns of Practice and Health Care Delivery conducted a study to find out how much work family physicians must do to make the average income reported in the CFPC's annual economic survey. The committee examined what each provincial health care plan paid for 20 common procedures performed by an average family doctor during a typical working day. The fees each provincial paying agency paid for every item are given for February 10, 1979; October 1, 1981, and October 1, 1982. Comparisons are made between the fees paid in the various provinces, and on the three dates chosen. Since 1979 the disparities between fees paid in the different provinces have been reduced. However, physicians practicing in the Maritimes still are paid less than their western colleagues for the same procedures. In general, the family doctor's time seems to be valued at about $16.86 an hour before taxes.