Junior doctors have been offered £20,000 grants to work in less popular areas in a GP recruitment drive.
A total of 100 GP posts have been advertised, including 37 in “hard-to-fill locations” such as remote and rural areas.
The new places bring the total number of GP specialist training posts advertised this year to 439, following a recruitment round earlier in the year.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “We know there are some parts of the country that have challenges recruiting – mainly because of their geographical location.
“So, we’re offering a financial incentive with certain posts to fill these vital training places.
“We are also investing in the future of the profession – developing new ways of working with multi-disciplinary teams and refocusing the role of the GP as the expert medical generalist within our community health service.
“We’ve also abolished the bureaucratic system of GP payments, QOF, and are working on a new Scottish GP contract to support our wider efforts to make primary care services fit for the future.”
Earlier this month it was revealed that NHS Tayside had had to canvass local health boards for staff amid a “critical” shortage of GP cover in Brechin.
Scotland’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith, a former GP, said: “Working in general practice can give you a wide and varied career – one in which every day is different and you never know what will come through the door next.
“General practice, particularly, is unique in being able to build that special relationship with patients which can potentially span decades and generations.
“Its flexibility can allow you to pursue both professional and personal interests further.”
Dr Miles Mack, chair of Royal College of GPs Scotland, said: “It is through increasing the size of the GP workforce that we can meet the needs of patients across Scotland.”
