Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger met this week with one of Kamloops' two dermatologists, but there is no resolution in sight to their de-enrollment in the public medical system.

Drs. Chris Sladden and Dick Lewis, both dermatologists, have de-enrolled from the medical services plan. They have opted to move strictly to private and privately insured services.

"To give Mr. Krueger his credit, if he had the authority, he'd have sorted this out," Sladden said Friday.

Sladden is on holiday this month, with plans to practice as a locum in fall in the Maritimes.

Despite Krueger's efforts, Sladden said he won't accept a one-off solution that isn't available to other dermatologists in B.C. who are caught in a pay dispute with government and B.C. Medical Association.

Krueger said Friday he continues to look for a solution to keep Sladden and Lewis within the medical services plan.

"He (Sladden) doesn't want to leave here and the city doesn't want to lose him."

BCMA, which represents physicians in this province, reached a new deal this summer with the province. That includes a new $20-million fund to deal with specialists, including anesthesiologists and dermatologists, who complain they are paid too little compared to colleagues in other parts of Canada.

Sladden said if dermatologists have success applying to that fund, he may return to public practice. But he noted similar efforts have failed in past.