Ontario’s medical doctors feel trapped in a process where they are treated as government employees, when it suits the government, and small business owners otherwise.
In the past, physicians have negotiated their fees with the provincial government. However, with the expiration of a contract between physicians and the government, fee cuts have been dictated to physicians. Yet most receive no vacation pay, sick days or pension as would a government employee. They study 10 to 15 years, while often working for less than minimum wage during their training.
Ontario doctors must pay for rent, staff and equipment. They are furious when the Ministry of Health misleads the public by suggesting OHIP billings are doctors’ take-home pay. This Liberal government expects the total amount paid to all our doctors collectively to remain the same year after year — with no extra money for our increasing population, aging population, up-to-date medical treatments or the rising cost of running a clinic.
Dr. Drue Mandel is a family practitioner in York Region. He wants us to know that the health and well-being of his patients is his priority, but he also wants to be treated fairly.
“It is important that the public understand, when the government says they are spending more money on health care, it does not translate into more money to help doctors run their clinics. The repeated reduction in OHIP fees is making it more difficult to provide the services our patients need to be healthy,” he says.
If we want our physicians to feel valued, we must insure that tax revenue is prioritized for #CareNotCuts.