Notice: Effective March 2020, the Ministry of Health no longer accepts mailed or couriered documents related to application-based programs. Only applications that are sent by email to a ministry-designated account or via fax (705-564-7493) will be accepted. Applications that include electronic signatures (such as, scanned original, electronic device applications, or digital) will be accepted in lieu of original, signed documents.

Overview

The Northern Health Programs (NHP) office in the Primary Health Care Branch delivers the Underserviced Area Program (UAP). The UAP is one of a number of supports provided by the ministry to help rural, remote and northern communities recruit and retain health care professionals.

The program is intended to enhance access to health care services in rural and northern areas of the province, which have difficulty attracting and retaining health care professionals. It also offers a variety of components aimed at attracting and retaining health care providers to Ontario communities with a Rurality Index Score (RIO) of 40 or greater. Learn more about the RIO Score.

Programs

Learn more about the Northern Health Programs for care professionals.

Northern and Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative

The Northern and Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative (NRRRI) offers taxable financial recruitment incentives to each eligible physician who establishes a full-time practice in an eligible community of the province. The grants range between $84,850.58 and $124,730.35 paid over a four-year period. The financial recruitment incentives will be awarded based on eligibility criteria and considerations related to total NRRRI budget allocations.

Northern Physician Retention Initiative

The NPRI is targeted to general and family practitioners and medical specialists who continue to practice full-time in northern Ontario, after completing their fourth year of the NRRRI financial recruitment incentive duration.

Rehabilitation Professionals Incentive Grant

Incentive grants of up to $15,000, paid over three years, may be available to audiologists, chiropodists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech-language pathologists who relocate to fill full-time MOH-fully funded positions in northern Ontario.

Tuition Support Program for Nurses

The Tuition Support Program for Nurses (TSPN) offers tuition reimbursement to recent nursing graduates from rural and remote communities who are new College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) registrants and who choose to do a return-of-service (ROS) in an eligible community. The program is open to nurse practitioner, registered nurse and registered practical nurse graduates who apply within one year of graduating from a Canadian university or college.

Community Assessment Visit Program

Provide reimbursement for travel and accommodation expenses incurred by health care professionals and their spouse (if applicable) within Ontario, for purposes of assessing practice opportunities in an eligible community of the province.

Nursing Community Assessment Visit Program

Provide reimbursement for travel and accommodation expenses incurred by nurses and their spouse (if applicable) within Ontario, for purposes of assessing practice opportunities in an eligible community of the province.

Physician Outreach Program

To provide regularly scheduled primary care outreach clinics to Underserviced Area Program-funded nursing stations.

Forms