Doctor shortage a deepening crisis, OMA report warns

The stability of Ontario’s health- care system is “ at risk” due to the shortage of physicians — especially family doctors — according to a new study prepared for the Ontario Medical Association. The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the report, prepared by the OMA’s human resources committee, which said the doctor shortage in Ontario had become much worse since it first warned the problem represented a “ looming crisis” in 1999.

“ The year 2005 finds the province in the midst of a deepening physician resources crisis,” it concludes.

“ Family medicine in particular has deteriorated into a dying specialty and requires urgent resuscitation.”

Last Thursday, Health Minister George Smitherman announced an additional $33 million in government funding for medical schools to create 141 new family residency positions in the province next year. Smitherman said that means there will be 337 more family doctors ready to practise by 2008. The OMA’s report acknowledged the Liberal government’s efforts to address the doctor shortage but gave the province an overall grade of C, and said much more must be done.

“ The government has taken a number of steps to increase the number of doctors trained in Ontario, and certifying those who trained abroad. . . to make Ontario more competitive with other jurisdictions,” OMA president Greg Flynn said in an email exchange with The Canadian Press.

“ Unfortunately, there remains more to do before we will see real improvements in the ability of patients to access the necessary care that doctors provide in our communities.” The OMA report said the province needs at least 2,100 physicians. It estimated 1.2 million Ontario residents are without a family doctor and warned that number would grow to 1.4 million in 2006.

Ontario now is seventh in Canada for the population per physician ratio, ahead of only the much less populous provinces of New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island. The report also warned the number of physicians working in specialties with long waiting lists, such as diagnostic services, oncology, orthopedics and ophthalmology, is also declining.