Colleagues,

Just a very brief update as there has been a lot of conversation about the Phase II agreement announced yesterday. I want to be clear on this, myself, the OMA Board and the staff of the OMA take your concerns seriously. Myself, the OMA Board and the staff firmly believe that every doctor who is willing to contribute during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be funded to do so.

The agreement that was announced yesterday is not perfect. It did not provide an immediate solution to support Fee For Service physicians, whether community based, or hospital based that do not qualify for Phase II. As mentioned, the Phase II agreement did set up immediate talks for Phase III, and preliminary discussions have already begun.

However, I made a commitment to you that the OMA and the Board would be more transparent during my term as President, and I intend to keep that promise. On Tuesday, April 14, the OMA will host a meeting of all the Section Chairs where they will be given more information about how the Board came to the decision to support Phase II. On Wednesday, April 15, instead of our usual COVID-19 Town Hall, we will hold a Town Hall for all members that is dedicated solely to the discussion of the Phase II agreement, and what steps we are taking to ensure the rest of the membership is appropriately funded in Phase III.

To register for the Town Hall, click here.

Finally, I would once again ask that you fill out the Practice Impact Survey here, if you have not already done so. As of this morning we had 1,100 physicians fill this out (and thank you to those who did). But to be candid, we need more. We need to let the government know the impact of not appropriately funding health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your participation is vital to help us make a stronger case with the Ministry of Health during the Phase III discussions.

Ontario’s Doctors Rock!