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VOLUME 33, NO. 28, AUGUST 19, 1997

Ont.'s FP coalition picking up steam

By Matt Borsellino

Thornhill, Ont. - The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario (COFP), believing the voice of GPs across the province has been drowned out by other interests, is stepping up its initiatives and fund raising.

The COFP has hired a health policy lawyer and a professional government lobbyist to raise its profile, though group officials are not prepared to name them. It's also seeking $100 contributions from GPs across the province to help continue its activities.

"The voice and power of Ontario's family physicians has decreased," they write in a fax. "The restructuring and financing of various divisions within the OMA has resulted in funding being taken from general practice to support and finance other sections and subspecialty groups '

"The OMA is now controlled by specialty designation, not total membership. Remember that family doctors represent 50% of the physicians in this province ' A strong, outside interest is vital if the interests of general practice and family physicians are to be protected."

The breakaway COFP was founded about a year ago by two family doctors practising in this suburb northwest of Toronto. Drs. Sharla Lichtman and Rochelle Schwartz had become disgruntled with the representation afforded by the OMA's section on general and family practice.

Dr. Kent Gerred, who heads that section, says many of the COFP's complaints and issues are also major priorities for his group. He agrees GP representation within the OMA has been cut and funding for the section's activities reduced. A committee formed during the OMA's May meeting is to look further at restructuring and GP representation, he added.

"There have to be changes made," Dr. Gerred noted. "Things are inherently unfair as they stand now. Members of the coalition are as frustrated as members of the section. We don't see the coalition as a rival at all. We talk frequently. What they want is what we want and vice versa, though neither of us may end up getting everything we want."

COFP officials fear the effects of reduced representation. But primary care reform and integrated delivery systems are also high on their political agenda.

"All these activities are - and continue to be - costly, but very worthwhile," the COFP document states. "Your continued financial support is essential to continue our proactive approach in representing your views and those of all grassroots family physicians in this province."

COFP board chairman Dr. Romas Stas, who was recently reinstated as an OMA director after being removed by the association's governors, said more than 90% of the group's 3,000 members have paid the $100 contribution for 1997.

"The whole idea is to keep in touch with those in the trenches, many of whom feel neglected by the OMA and the rest of the medical establishment, and to do what doctors want done, not what some organization wants," he said by phone.

During its inaugural board meeting in May, the COFP passed a number of motions setting the stage for its future activities. Foremost is a commitment to act "independently" in protecting the rights and freedoms of the province's family doctors and "to reflect and amplify" their collective voice.

The COFP, Dr. Stas added, has been set up to get maximum input from GPs now practising in every conceivable setting in Ontario, including urban/rural, young/old, north/south, and fee-for-service/capitation.

To do that, group officials have assembled a 16-member executive (the OMA has a six-person executive committee), a 67-member board (the OMA has 24 directors), and a 218-person "steering committee" to help set policy, distribute coalition materials, and communicate regularly with the executive committee. (The OMA's policymaking body, its general council, has nearly 250 members.)

Dr. Gerred may not find the COFP threatening, but both his section and the coalition are vying for seats on various bilateral committees set up by the OMA's recent comprehensive deal with the province. Panels will be established to study such GP-related issues as malpractice insurance, physician resources, and the development of clinical guidelines and a resource-based relative value scale.

The OMA invited the COFP and watchdog Ontario Physicians' Alliance to submit names to be considered for appointment to the panels. Both groups chose to try to win seats on their own.

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