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COMMENTARY: What if P.E.I. became Canada's health Island?

The number is shocking, and it’s not getting smaller: 35,000 Islanders are still on the wait list for a family doctor. So how do we fix this? Like in other provinces, P.E.I. has invested in nurse practitioners, expanded pharmacy services and created community medical homes. Those are important steps. But despite those efforts, the challenge remains. So perhaps it’s time to think differently.

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I am getting older, and like many people, I have developed some of the chronic conditions that come with age. I am fortunate to have a family physician. But, more recently, I have also received support from a naturopathic doctor. It has been an eye-opening experience. I’ve learned to think differently about my health by focusing on my diet, and my mobility. In my case, consulting a naturopath has been a game changer. My health has improved. I have made fewer visits to my family doctor. More importantly, the experience has made me wonder why this kind of care remains so far outside our larger conversation about health care.

Prince Edward Island is trying to recruit its way out of a serious doctor shortage, and that work must continue. But every province is competing for the same limited pool of physicians and nurses. There is no quick fix. We need to offer a new way for Islanders to........

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