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COFP President Says Family Physicians Need 40% Raise

The following article appeared in the August 13, 2002 issue of the Medical Post… 

Coalition Begins Fundraising

The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario (COFP) has launched a provincewide membership and fundraising drive as part of a strategic plan to win better funding for primary health care.

In a letter sent to all family physicians in Ontario, COFP President Dr. Doug Mark said family physicians are at a "critical crossroads" in their relationship with the government.

"The writing has been on the wall for many years. We've seen an aging and growing population. We've seen cuts to the hospitals, cuts to medical schools, rocketing tuition fees. Overall funding has been reduced," Dr. Mark said in an interview.

"Look at increased expense due to inflation, increasing utilization due to the demographics changes. The walls are crumbling down. Our morale is low.

"We need to have a greater influence on the decision-making process of delivering health care," he said. "Primary care is very important. If you put money into it, your overall health expenditure goes down."

The membership recruitment letter—the first in a series, according to Dr. Mark—says family physicians in Ontario feel their interests have not been protected by a 1.9% pay increase negotiated on their behalf by the Ontario Medical Association.

As well, the letter describes dissatisfaction over a diverse number of issues, including primary health-care reform, relative fee scheduling and the disciplinary review process.

"I think our biggest goal . . . and no one likes to talk about it . . . is money," said Dr. Mark, referring to health-care funding as well as their own remuneration.

Citing increasing overhead and staff costs, he said Ontario family physicians need a 40% raise. "I don't think we're going to get that, but after some agreements across the provinces, physicians across the country have been getting significant 20% increases in fees," he said. "Anything would be better than what we're getting this year."

With the next provincial election in all likelihood less than a year away, fee-for-service negotiations with the ministry of health will be getting underway by the end of 2003, Dr. Mark said.

The COFP has also hired a consulting team to provide COFP members with advocacy training, lobbying and public relations assistance, he said.

Douglas Mark is the president of the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario. He can be reached at: dmark@cofp.com

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