Ask Ontario Doctors: Solving the crisis in primary care

TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2023 — Family medicine in Ontario is in crisis. The number of Ontarians without a family doctor is growing. Physicians are reporting record levels of burnout, due to frustration with barriers in the health-care system preventing them from providing optimal patient care. Large numbers of them say they are considering retiring in the next five years or reducing their hours. At the same time, patients are getting older and have more complex medical needs.

The Ontario Medical Association is releasing a new report this week containing concrete solutions that the Ontario government has the jurisdiction to make.

Media are invited to attend the OMA’s monthly Ask Ontario Doctors news briefing from 11 a.m. to noon on Oct. 12, where an expert panel will discuss these recommendations and release new data showing a decline in the number of young doctors choosing to practice comprehensive family medicine. Register for the Zoom webinar.

Please note, you can register at any time, including while the event is taking place, but you need to register to gain access.

The briefing will be chaired by OMA President Dr. Andrew Park, who will be joined by:

• Dr. David Barber, chair of the OMA’s Section of Family and General Practice
• Dr. Kamila Premji, a family physician in Ottawa who is part of the INSPIRE Primary Health Care research collaborative
• Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, a family doctor in Cambridge, Ont., and president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians

About the OMA

The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario’s 43,000 plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario’s health-care system.

For more information, please contact:
Leslie Shepherd, OMA Director of Earned and Social Media,
at media@OMA.org.