The medical field has long been lauded as a noble profession, but recent developments in Ontario suggest that our family doctors – the frontline warriors of our health system – are feeling less supported and more strained than ever. The birth of the Ontario Union of Family Physicians, a grassroots movement boasting over 1,000 members, paints a somber picture of our current health system.
According to Dr. Ramsey Hijazi, a key organizer of this group, family medicine in the province has reached a breaking point. It’s a stark reality: 2.2 million Ontarians don’t have access to primary health care. The combination of growing administrative tasks and limited financial support has made establishing a family practice increasingly challenging. With many experienced family doctors nearing retirement and others contemplating a career switch, a bleak horizon looms.
Dr. Britt Harrison, another passionate voice of the movement, resonates with this sentiment, stating that many of her peers regret their choice of profession. When healthcare professionals, dedicated to healing and caring, voice such concerns, it’s an urgent call to introspect.
The issue isn’t merely about the funding, although that’s significant – the current provincial funding covers only about 38% of the historical rates paid to family doctors. This inadequate financial support is meant to handle rising operational costs like rent, staff salaries, electronic medical records, utilities, and more. With costs skyrocketing, and funding at a standstill, it’s a mathematical recipe for distress.
A distress further echoed by the more than 20,000 signatories on a petition calling to halt the defunding. The testimonies speak volumes: doctors are ‘drowning,’ ‘burnt out,’ and ‘feeling unappreciated.’ For many, a sustainable future in family medicine in Ontario feels like a distant dream.
The Ontario Union of Family Physicians is not merely voicing concerns; they are actively advocating for change. Their demands include increased funding, fair compensation packages for family doctors, compensation for the burgeoning administrative workload, and pragmatic measures to attract and retain fresh talent in the province’s primary care.
While training more doctors might seem like a solution, Dr. Hijazi and Dr. Harrison emphasize the crux: it’s retention that’s the game-changer. If the province doesn’t provide an environment where doctors can maintain a sustainable living, merely increasing numbers won’t solve the crisis.
In stark contrast, British Columbia has taken concrete steps to address its primary care crisis. The province has rolled out increased funding and even allocated hourly rates for the administrative tasks undertaken by doctors.
It’s a clarion call for Ontario to follow suit. The family doctors of Ontario entered the profession with aspirations of helping and healing. Their dedication and commitment to patient care remain unwavering. As Dr. Hijazi poignantly remarks, “We all went into this hoping to be supported and to work in a system where we could help people.”
In these trying times, it’s crucial for every medical professional across Ontario, including many provinces within Canada, to stand united. Imperial Lifestyle Management understands the importance of this movement. If you are a healthcare professional seeking guidance or clarity on these issues or any other related topic, don’t hesitate to connect with our team.
To support, understand, and learn more about this initiative and how you can contribute, connect with the Imperial Lifestyle Management team here today.
The blog post is originally referenced from the following article found here.
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