Ontario Doctors Welcome Plan to Introduce Health Human Resource Strategy
Doctors call for strategy to promote physician retention in Ontario and
expanded wait list monitoring
March 23 2006 - Today, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA)
welcomed the provincial government's budget commitment to introduce a health
human resource strategy. The OMA committed to participating in the development
of that strategy and called for the retention of physicians in Ontario to be a
priority.
"The government has taken several steps in recent years to improve the
number of doctors being trained in Ontario," said Dr. Greg Flynn, President of
the OMA. "These steps will be complemented by a health human resources
strategy that identifies our short and long-term needs and focuses on
retaining those physicians who are nearing retirement age."
Since 2002, the OMA has highlighted the need for a human resources
strategy to address the ongoing physician shortage and to help prevent
shortages from worsening in the future. Currently, Ontario is short 2,300
physicians, affecting 1.4 million patients. In the next two years alone, 3,800
physicians are predicted to retire in Canada, which is double the current
national rate.
The OMA also acknowledged the government's progress in reducing wait
times in the their priority areas, but called for expanded monitoring of other
wait lists not being targeted to ensure they are not negatively impacted.
Doctors welcomed new investments in health promotion and prevention
including, juvenile Type 1 diabetes, breast-cancer screening, newborn
screening and pandemic planning. Flynn also applauded the government for
making overdue investments to renew hospitals and other health facilities
aimed at improving Ontario's health infrastructure.
"Improving our health infrastructure is vital to improving the ability of
doctors and other health professionals to care for patients," said Flynn.
"Ontario doctors look forward to working with government to improve patient
access and quality of care."
The OMA represent 24,000 Ontario doctors.
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