Recruitment and retention of doctors in Ontario is "not a major concern," the Ministry of Health suggests in arguments it is making in arbitration with the Ontario Medical Association over physician compensation.

"Recruitment and retention of doctors in Ontario is “not a major concern,” the Ministry of Health suggests in arguments it is making in arbitration with the Ontario Medical Association over physician compensation.

The argument from the province comes as the OMA, which represents Ontario’s doctors, has repeatedly warned that more than two million residents don’t have a family doctor"

  • @kat_angstrom
    5•7 months ago

    “The numbers are one thing, right, but … the government’s approach here is their briefing essentially says there’s nothing wrong. I get there’s posturing, but this is actually quite dangerous posturing on the side of the government.”

    • Avid Amoeba
      3•7 months ago

      The ministry cited various data points to back up its arguments. The supply of doctors has grown 8.9 per cent from 2019-20 to 2023-24, while the population grew 7.1 per cent, it said.

      In that same time period, the average income of a physician increased by about 10 per cent, while the average patient encounters per physician dropped 3.7 per cent, the ministry said.

      There’s so this thought. Not that I trust this government but it’s interesting if true.

      • @[email protected]
        4•7 months ago

        This is the same government that counts student residences as permanent housing. They could claim PhDs as doctors and cite that as part of the supply.

      • enkers
        3•7 months ago

        So the number of doctors relative to population grew by 1.7% but average patient encounters dropped 3.7%? That doesn’t exactly add up.

        Maybe there’s been a drop in the amount of care needed, but I kinda doubt it. One possible explanation is that people are so disillusioned with our healthcare system that they’re seeking other forms of treatment, either out of province or through alternative (pseudoscience) medicine or just not going at all.

        • Avid Amoeba
          2•7 months ago

          I pretty much stopped going to my family doctor for trivial things because it’s always a half-to-full day affair. I’m going to local walk-in clinics instead.