Poll shows 89 per cent of Ontarians are concerned about the future of Ontario’s health care
Toronto, Oct. 16, 2024 – Ontario’s doctors recommend immediate steps that the provincial government should take to stop the crisis in the health-care system. Today, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) launched their Stop the Crisis initiative to direct government attention and investment towards six priority areas:
“Ontario’s health-care system is in crisis,” said Dr. Dominik Nowak, OMA president. “Chronic underfunding has put the future of Ontario health care in jeopardy. This is why doctors are putting forth solutions that the government must enact immediately to tackle our most severe challenges.”
The OMA’s Stop the Crisis recommendations capture areas of the health system in urgent need of support according to physicians and their patients. The initiative includes detailed recommendations, data and analysis, patient stories and physician testimonials.
There are more than 2.5 million Ontarians without a family doctor—that number is projected to balloon to 25 per cent of Ontarians by 2026. Emergency departments are crowded, and, in many communities, they struggle to stay open. Wait times for specialist care, surgery and diagnostics are long and often exceed acceptable standards. Co-ordination of care for diagnostics tests and access to specialists is disorganized and confusing to patients. Digital health tools have never been integrated around the needs of users. In northern and rural Ontario, the six crisis areas are most acute.
“Our members are concerned that, without significant government intervention, health care in this province will deteriorate beyond repair,” said OMA CEO Kimberly Moran. “The OMA intends to work with government on these solutions. Ensuring the future of health care in Ontario must be a top priority.”
The people of Ontario feel the crisis too. According to a recent survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the OMA, 89 per cent of Ontarians are concerned about the future of Ontario’s health-care system. Patients also indicated access to a family doctor and health-care priorities would influence which party they might vote for.
“The people of Ontario expect better of their health-care system and this government,” said Nowak. “We have concrete solutions. Immediate action is necessary to ensure we build a health-care system to meet our needs. There is nothing more important than the health of the people of Ontario.”
For more information about the crisis, descriptions of the solutions, data and analysis, patient stories and physician testimonials visit stopthecrisis.ca.
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:
OMA media relations
media@oma.org