The recruitment arm PracticeNWT posted a recruitment drive on January 24, 2026, seeking permanent and locum emergency physicians for the Hay River Regional Health Centre in Hay River, Northwest Territories. The campaign is recruiting both full‑time and temporary doctors to help ensure the community has reliable emergency medical coverage.
The Hay River Health and Social Services Authority (HRHSSA), supported by GNWT measures, is promoting enhanced incentives introduced in 2025 to attract physicians. Verifiable measures include higher locum daily rates (effective June 1, 2025), travel stipends and return travel costs, furnished accommodations for locums, expedited licensure for locum physicians and reimbursement of licensing fees upon completion of a contract. These steps were designed to help stabilize the local health system after several years of staffing challenges.
In recent years, Hay River has periodically relied on virtual physicians — doctors providing care by phone or video — and on nurse practitioners to keep the emergency department operating when no on‑site physician was available, public notices and news reports show. The 2026 recruitment push aims to reduce those service gaps and build a more consistent team of doctors familiar with the needs of the South Slave region.
The GNWT has said it will expedite licensure for locum physicians and reimburse licensing fees to reduce barriers so temporary doctors can begin work sooner after being hired. Interested medical professionals can find more information or apply through the PracticeNWT physician careers page.
