This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of the Ontario Medical Review magazine.
There will be extensive communications to members via OMA News and directly to the Health-Care Advocates Network to provide updates on opportunities to participate and become involved.
Now that the OMA’s health-care recommendations have been launched, efforts will be accelerated to secure widespread political support by working with members to pitch and promote the platform to the public, stakeholders, community leaders, current MPPs, candidates and political parties.
The OMA’s short-term objective, with the support of the membership, is to gain the agreement of each of the major political parties to include at least one of the OMA’s health-care recommendations in their election platforms.
Over the longer term, our collective efforts to promote the OMA’s health-care recommendations, will continue to strengthen member unity, build our grassroots advocacy capacity and lead the conversation on health-care transformation.
To gain public support, the OMA is planning several high-profile and member-led advocacy activities at the provincial and local levels. Member advocacy will be critical.
All candidates in the election need to hear from doctors about the needs in their community and the importance of supporting the OMA’s health-care recommendations. At the same time, the president will be advocating for the recommendations at provincial and regional levels through a number of events, speeches and meetings.