Written By Olena Riznyk
LUCAN BIDDULPH – In recent months, the township, in collaboration with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), has joined forces to urgently highlight an escalating crisis unfolding in the province’s healthcare system. A draft council resolution has been formally requested to draw increased attention to the increasingly dire situation, characterized by a severe shortage of physicians and essential healthcare resources, particularly in rural and northern communities. The resolution, which was unanimously supported by council, underscores the critical need for immediate and sustained action by the provincial government to effectively address the growing healthcare crisis in Ontario.
Ontario’s healthcare system is currently facing unprecedented and severe challenges. According to recent statistics, 2.3 million Ontarians do not have access to a family doctor, a number expected to rise as emergency rooms across the province continue to experience closures and resource shortages. This issue is compounded by the fact that many patients are being de-rostered, leaving them without a primary healthcare provider. Additionally, approximately 40% of family doctors are seriously considering retirement within the next five years. The shortage of healthcare professionals is not confined to urban areas; it is particularly acute in rural and northern regions, where the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University reports a critical shortage of over 350 physicians, including more than 200 family doctors. The situation is expected to worsen, with half of the current physicians in Northern Ontario anticipated to retire within the next five years.
Ontario’s municipal governments play a vital and indispensable role in the healthcare system. They are responsible for public health, long-term care, and paramedicine, among other crucial services. However, the ability of municipalities to fulfill these roles is being severely hampered by the declining number of family physicians practicing comprehensive family medicine. Given these challenges, it is imperative that the provincial government urgently recognize the physician shortage and take immediate steps to ensure that every Ontarian has access to physician care. This includes adequate funding for healthcare and the development of a robust, sector-wide health human resources strategy that can effectively address the shortfall in healthcare professionals and improve access to health services across the entire province.
