Dear Colleagues,                                                            March 22, 2005

The OMA/MOHLTC Deal
The Abyss

The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario (COFP) remains steadfast not to endorse the recent deal between the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). Our March 17 th bulletin itemized many reasons behind our decision.

Most importantly, the needs of family practice in Ontario remain unmet. This was the foremost founding principle leading to the creation of the Coalition in 1996. We family doctors deserve better. The people of Ontario, our patients, deserve better.

After further analysis, we have found that the 2.5 per cent retroactive payment for family doctors comes at the expense of delays implementing programs in the second year. Indeed, physicians who have signed contracts with the MOHLTC as Family Health Group (FHG) doctors may experience a net loss of several thousands of dollars because of these delays. It is regrettable that family doctors would be receiving retroactive payments at least in part on the backs of FHG doctors and others who adopt some of the new “incentives”.

There are indeed misgivings about the new deal from many of our colleagues. The Board of the Specialist Coalition of Ontario (SCO) has passed a resolution for a “no” vote to be discussed and reviewed at their Assembly meeting tonight. The basis for their decision is eloquently detailed on the SCO web site.

Some express concern that a “no” vote would result in an “all out war” with the McGuinty Government. Conflict with government is not new. Physicians have witnessed Bill 26 and Bill 8 as prime examples of government unwillingness to cooperate with its physicians. Furthermore, for over a decade, grassroots frontline family doctors across Canada have been struggling to convince government that the solution to the family doctor crisis is to enhance and not reform what excellent care we already provide to hundreds of thousands of Canadians every day. Ill-conceived primary care reform agendas that health-care bureaucrats espouse are not the solution to Canada's health-care woes.

Today, you have a strong voice in the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario. We are committed to explore all the options to deal with either a “yes” or “no” vote. We strongly believe that family doctors have absolutely nothing to lose by voting “no”. The government needs a deal, but cannot legislate one because it would contravene the Canada Health Act.

A small step forward for family practice that stands on the edge of an abyss will not prevent its fall. What is required to leap over the chasm are the ideas expressed by many of our colleagues: correcting relative net income disparities, offering incentives for older physicians to remain in practice, no splitting of the profession into “haves” and “have-nots”, and a premier fee structure relative to other provinces among other goals will help turn Ontario from a hostile province to a welcoming province for family doctors. Once this is done, the family doctor shortage and orphan patient crisis will be but a bitter memory in history.

Please vote to register your opinion on the current contract offer.

The future of family medicine depends on you!

Sincerely,

Douglas Mark MD, President

and the Board of the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario

P.S. If you believe the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario best represents your views and wish it to continue to work tirelessly to restore comprehensive family practice and promote a rejuvenation of family medicine, please take a few minutes and join us or renew your membership for 2005. Many of our members ask one of their colleagues to join or renew as well. With our final membership numbers for 2004 reaching almost 4,000, our goal to represent the majority of family doctors is within reach.

Join, renew, give feedback, and make political action & legal challenge contributions online at www.cofp.com