Recruitment and retention of doctors in Ontario is a contentious issue as the Ministry of Health argues that it is not a major concern, despite warnings from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) about the shortage of family doctors. The ongoing negotiations for the Physician Services Agreement for the next four years have hit a roadblock, with an arbitrator being asked to determine compensation levels for the first year. Dr. David Barber, chair of the OMA’s Section on General and Family Practice, expressed concern over the government’s position, calling it insulting.
The OMA is proposing significant increases in compensation to address the growing physician shortage, which includes a five per cent general price increase and a 10.2 per cent “catch-up” to account for inflation. In contrast, the Ministry of Health is proposing a three per cent increase, stating there is no need for a catch-up.
Despite the government’s argument that there is no concern about a diminished supply of physicians, the OMA insists that Ontario is facing a physician human resources crisis, evident in the millions of residents without a family doctor and the growing vacancies in physician jobs.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones emphasized the government’s commitment to the health-care system, while NDP health critic France Gelinas called for collaboration to solve the ongoing issues in family medicine.
Overall, the dispute between the Ministry of Health and the OMA highlights the challenges in addressing physician shortage and compensation concerns in Ontario.