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Feud between doctors and province doesn't address health-care reform, says physician

Ontario's physicians rejected a tentative agreement with the province Friday 
Doctor
On Friday the Ontario Medical Association membership voted to reject a tentative agreement with the province that would have increased the budget for doctors' fees by 2.5 per annually. File photo.

The ongoing dispute between Ontario doctors and the province doesn't address overall failures of the health-care system, says a local physician.

“I believe there's a failure of leadership with both the government and the OMA (Ontario Medical Association),” said Dr. Peter Zalan, president of the medical staff at Health Sciences North.

On Friday the Ontario Medical Association membership voted to reject a tentative agreement with the province that would have increased the budget for doctors' fees by 2.5 per annually.

Overall, 63.1 per cent of Ontario Medical Association members voted against the agreement, and 36.9 per cent voted for the agreement, either in person at their Aug. 14 general meeting or by proxy. Fifty-five per cent of the membership participated in the vote.

The Ontario Medical Association represents more than 42,000 physicians and medical students across the province. 

The group Concerned Ontario Doctors spearheaded a campaign to oppose the tentative agreement.

It has argued that while the Liberals were willing to fund 2.5 per cent growth in the patient services physicians deliver, the Financial Accountability Office has said they must increase funding by 5.2 per cent to maintain the status quo for health-care services.

“So this 2.5 per cent is not a raise,” Concerned Ontario Doctors said in a press release. 

“It is not even a wage freeze. It is a cut to existing patient services. Any overage of the budget will be taken out of physician pay in an unpredictable fashion – this will force clinics teetering on the brink of closure right over the edge. This will only further increase wait-times and decrease access to essential services.”

Zalan said many physicians, like him, are frustrated with both sides, which was why only 55 per cent of Ontario Medical Association members bothered to vote. 

“The health-care system is still a mess,” he said. 

Zalan said Ontario physicians “get paid very well,” and the focus of negotiations should be on health-care system reform.

The fee schedule for physicians, for example, needs to be reworked, said Zalan.

He said the system currently encourages doctors to complete easy tasks which pay well, but discourages them to do more difficult or time-consuming work, because it could affect their bottom line. 

In a press release, Ontario Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins said he was disappointed by the Ontario Medical Association membership vote.

“Although the government respects the outcome of the vote, the result is regrettable and will require all parties to reflect carefully on next steps during the coming weeks,” he said.

“Going forward, the government will be guided by the need to secure a stable and predictable budget to meet the demands of population growth and an aging society, as well as to ensure fair compensation for all physicians and for family doctors in particular. Above all, we will protect the quality and sustainability of our health care system for all those who need it today and will need it in the future.” 

Hoskins told national media he has no immediate plans to return to the bargaining table with the Ontario Medical Association.


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Jonathan Migneault

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