The newly-released $8 billion draft agreement between the McGuinty government and the Ontario Medical Association is a missed opportunity for change, according to NDP health critic France Gélinas.
“Physicians have a very important role to play in the delivery of health care. They work hard and should be paid for the work that they do," said Gelinas, in a release.
"But as with the last agreement in 2005, physicians’ salaries are going up and promises of better access to care and reduced wait times are being made. But paying physicians more in 2005 did not improve access to care or reduce waiting lists - so why should it now?”
“The key message of the Romanow Commission was that new investments should be linked to changes that improve our health care system. Unfortunately, the vast majority of new funds from the McGuinty government will go towards continuing business as usual."
“Report after report tells us that community health centres are the best at improving access and delivering quality health care to people who need it the most. Yet once again, this government is investing significant new funding in a fee-for-service model that rewards volume but not access or quality,” Gélinas said.
“After this massive new infusion of funds, one has to wonder how much money will be left over for more effective and cost-efficient health care initiatives, such as expansion of community health centres, initiatives to prevent illness and promote healthy living, and better management of chronic disease."
“Physicians are important in delivering health care services when people are sick. But other providers and strategies are crucial in keeping people well in the first place and in stemming the massive rise in health care costs in Ontario,” said Gélinas.
