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YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR AUTO PARTS -iriraaaadianarrrees,,g.tytatNt-rndlot"attomrres LOWEST PRICE ALWAYS OF THE WEEK agar-"351; Free tuition program for medical students will benefit Waterloo Region, Witmer says. ocal efforts to attract more doctors got a shot av Bo: Vnurw: Chmmlde gag: s-v-sri; ttisaittVttt' (997’ ttf22S9jaiuty or replacement bulb (5.97 to 13.99 value) Buy one GE headlight or replacement iit bulb at regu ar price "09¢th ther expires August B, 2000 3573-99 each Receive an mama! in the arm last week from a provincial plan that would provide free tuition to med- ical students willing to prac- tise in undersewiced areas. Health Minister Elizabeth Witmer said the Ontario government will provide 54 million for free tuition and location incentives to address a doctor distribu- tion problem that has left areas like Waterloo Region short of family doctors and specialists for a centre of its The tuition grant and location incentives will pro- vide students with $10,000 for each year of undergsadu- até training for a minimum requirement of three years of service in a designated underserviced area. Medical students can begin applying for the pro- gram this fall, and Witmer, the MPP for Waterloo. said there has already been an overwhelming response to the program. "We've been really quite thrilled at the number of people who have called our office since we made the announcement," said Wilmer. "They're interested in accessing the free tuition, and hopefully it will enable young people looking to attend medical school to have their tuition provided in return for three or four years of service in an under- serviced area." tives included: funding addi- tional postgraduate training in Ontario to lure back Canadian medical school graduates who have gone to the US.; expanding the International Medical Graduate program from 24 to 36 positions; doubling the number of community development oflicers to help underserviced areas recruit doctors from three to six, expanding two northern family residency training programs; and expanding the Ministry's re- entry/training/return of ser- vice program from 25 to 40 positions. "This was certainly one of the recommendations we were able to act upon quick- ly," said Winner about the new tuition program. Witmer said the incentive program should have an impact on the physician supply problem in Kitchener-Waterloo that has seen more than 40.000 local residents go without access to a family physician. "We are one of these underserviced areas. and I do believe that for people graduating medical school that this is a very attractive area in which to open a fam- ily practice." she said. Members of the local drive to attract more doctors tty the area applauded the province's move, . Dr. Patti Wurtele, imme- diate past-president of the local Academy of Medicine, . MEA?§IE%§EESE , Centre Cut Pork Loin Chops Ribeye Steaks Eye of Round Roasts Deli Sliced Baked Loaves Elizabeth Wilmer Onion & Parsley Cheese Stone Crock Salads Health Minister SPECIALS said the program should work if tuition incentives are tied to practising in an underserviced area. "If you tie it into working tn an underserviced area, yes absolutely, I think it makes a difference," she II should also help bolster the local campaign to recruit doctors, particularly with the quality of life the area has to offs! and the support in cancer care and cardiac care that will soon be in place, Wunele said. "Our advantage is that we are a wonderful commu. nity to practise in, to live in and to raise our kids in," said WUrtele. "That's a big bonus for usf Glen Mathers, head of the Kitchener-Waterloo Cham- ber of Commerce's Doctor Recruitment Task Force. was also enthusiastic about the announcement. "I think it's a wonderful idea," said Mathers. "it should certainly be a boon to our community, and we should have some of the added attraction of getting the medical residents look- ing at Kitchener-Waterloo more than they have in the past." Wilmer said the govern- ment is planning to make more announcements regarding Ontario's physi- cian supply and distribution problems once a fmal report is received from Dr. Peter George's expert panel on health professional human resources later this year. One of those announcements could include expanding medical school enrollment. "I do anticipate making an announcement at some point indicating that enroll- ment for our medical school positions will be increased." said Wilmer. "We not only have distribution problems, but if we take a look, we know there is a shortage of physicians. F 1'We definitely need to improve not only distribu- tion hut also the supply" '3.99m, '8.99o '3.69m, '3.59m, '2.39o U.19m,