Ontario's doctors voted to reject a tentative agreement with the province that would have increased the budget for doctors' fees by 2.5 per annually.
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 in a press release.
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.
“Members have spoken, and the board of directors respects their decision," said Dr. Virginia Walley, president of the Ontario Medical Association, in a press release. “The OMA will always represent the will of our members, and today is no different.”
The association's board supported the tentative agreement, which would included $370 million over four years to encourage doctors to co-manage the province's health-care system to help reduce overall costs.
But the group Concerned Ontario Doctors spearheaded a campaign to oppose the tentative agreement.
The group 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.”
Following the vote rejecting the tentative agreement, the Ontario Medical Association has said it will consult with its members to identify additional priorities that must be addressed when negotiations resume int he future.
The association said it will request a meeting with the Ontario government to communicate its expectations for renewed negotiations.
In his statement, Minister Hoskins said the health-care system will not be impacted by the vote.
“I want to assure the people and patients of Ontario that their access to physicians and the health care system will not be affected,” he said. “Similarly, the government's planned investments in priorities such as new and expanded funding for home care and community care, as well as additional funding for continued growth in physician supply will continue to be made.
“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.”
