Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COALITION OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF PROVINCE-WIDE PUBLIC

EDUCATION PROGRAM TO DRAW ATTENTION TO SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF FAMILY DOCTORS

(February 8, 2005, Toronto, Ontario) – Dr. Douglas Mark, President of the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario (COFP), announced today the launch of a province-wide public education program asking Ontarians to challenge deeply flawed provincial health-care policies that discourage family doctors from practicing in Ontario, and have resulted in rapidly deteriorating access to medical specialists, other health-care providers, diagnostic testing, hospitals and other services .  

The Coalition, representing 3,700 family doctors, is drawing attention through this public campaign to the serious shortage of family physicians in the province, the cause of the shortages, and the actions the provincial government must take to improve working conditions for family doctors and specialists.  

“The Coalition and other reputable organizations have been trying to convince and work with the government to reverse the doctor and service shortages,” said Dr. Mark. “ For years, we've been warning the government about the effects of deeply flawed provincial health-care policies that discourage family doctors from practicing in Ontario. Now we're asking Ontarians to support us.”

The public education campaign includes radio advertisements, which began airing yesterday morning, an information brochure being distributed through physician offices and a toll-free number for people to find out how they can support their family doctor in their efforts to better our health-care system in the face of government mismanagement.

“There are nearly one million Ontarians without a family doctor now, and waiting lists to see a specialist have increased to months or even years,” said Dr. Mark. “T he number of Ontarians without a family doctor could potentially rise to three million by 2010, unless we make it attractive again for physicians to practice medicine in Ontario.”

The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario, representing frontline providers of health care, is a grassroots organization dedicated to the provision of top quality health care to the people of Ontario. We strive to protect the rights, freedoms and independence of family physicians of Ontario and to continually improve the health-care system. To learn more, please visit the Coalition's Web site at www.cofp.com.

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