A physician recruitment program has helped connect residents with much needed primary care.
Community residents were among the highest in the county without a primary care physician last year, with 12.7 per cent of the population without a GP.
A report presented to the county council by John Nicholas, communications project coordinator, says that rate has dropped down to 1.4 per cent as of August.
Since the beginning of the program in 2006, Hastings has recruited 32 physicians and 78 per cent continue to practice in the county.
Nicholas recommended that council continue to support the program, which calls for competitive recruitment and incentives as well as establishing regional partnerships.
According to data collected for the report, the county has an immediate need of five to six more doctors.
The recruitment reserve will be $330,000 by the end of 2026, with annual contributions remaining at $167,500.
