Almost 100 physicians are needed in northwestern Ontario.
That is from the province’s marketing and recruitment agency, HealthForce Ontario, which identifies 2,600 vacancies provincewide.
The Ontario Medical Association is looking to the political parties for action.
It calls for commitments to address overcrowding, emergency department closures and strengthening northern and rural health care.
It warns the vacancies could lead to over four million people without access to a physician by next year and longer wait times for surgeries.
The OMA cites the average wait currently for hip replacement surgery is 276 days, 303 days for knee replacements, and 282 days for cataract surgery.
“Health care is something we pride ourselves on as Canadians, yet our system is struggling to deliver even the most fundamental services,” says OMA President Dr. Dominik Nowak in a release.
“We have stagnated too long. We need action to keep our system improving to ensure a healthy future for Ontario.”
The doctors’ group has put forward several recommendations that, if implemented immediately, would improve patient access, reduce wait times, and strengthen Ontario’s healthcare system.
These solutions include:
- Ensuring every Ontarian has access to a family doctor
- Addressing emergency department closures and overcrowding
- Strengthening northern and rural health care
- Reducing wait times for specialists and diagnostics
“These solutions are ready to be implemented and would provide direct, meaningful, and lasting improvements for physicians and their patients,” said Kimberly Moran, OMA Chief Executive Officer.
The Ford government announced a $1.8 billion plan to connect two million more people to a family doctor or primary care team within four years.
The Ontario Liberal Party plan would result in 3,100 new doctors.
The NDP and Green Party have not yet revealed their plans for healthcare.
