Being a family doctor in Ontario is highly demanding, extremely satisfying and intolerably challenging

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Ontario doctors are speaking up to say they need more funding, and better work conditions just to survive as local family doctors. Costs of running a private/public medical center have skyrocketed, and these costs disallow family/local doctors to hire new staff, give their staff better wages, and purchase much needed equipment that would often keep patients away from emergency centers. Imagine having your X-rays, MRI’s done at the same visit, at the same medical facility? This is often done at centers around the world, but not so in Ontario, and much of Canada. Each facility has its special skill set with skilled technicians, but always away from other facilities demanding multiple visits by patients who cannot afford the time, or costs.

Many family doctors are thinking of leaving their locals, believing that the system is a roadblock to their small businesses, threatening their very survival, because they are spending their time filling out extensive insurance forms, provincial paperwork, writing employee’s sick reports, and getting worse each following year. There has been a 20% cut in funding for family doctors and yet, they need to service more and more patients with: less funding, less staff and less personal hope to better themselves financially. Being a family doctor is highly demanding, extremely satisfying and yet intolerably challenging.

The CMA announced this past Thursday that many of its members are ready to quit, as the system is no longer working for them. Hosted by OMA President Dr. Andrew Park, the general announcement given to the public and government is that doctors do not go into practice to be buried in paperwork but work directly and timely with their patients.

Their ability to bill OHIP, or other Provincial Health Plans has not kept up with the times and demands of their practice. Ontario’s College of Family Physicians say while one in four Ontarians will not be able to find a family doctor, family doctors continue to retire, or leave their posts for better future earnings and a much better lifestyle elsewhere. Entire towns and regions have to make due with no, or a few family doctors. This challenge will certainly brew over time, and many within the healthcare faculty are prepared to initiate public labor unrest, demanding a betterment of their status and that of those they serve.