In the climate created by Covid 19 pandemic for doctors, the hardships of which extend beyond the loss of income, fee for service doctors are facing an increasingly difficult time keeping their clinics and other services open. These clinics are necessary to help keep as many patients out of hospitals and ERs as possible, as well as continuing to provide care unrelated to Covid. Other patients still need to be treated both for acute issues as well as ongoing care for chronic diseases. Pregnant women need follow-up. Cancer patients need ongoing care. Acute injuries need to be seen. Babies need to be vaccinated and assessed.

Without support, fee for service physicians will increasingly have to lay off of their staff, and close their clinics. This is happening  in real time.

The government has taken steps to help society in general weathering the financial difficulties coming ahead of a long recovery.

While we are committed to keep the standard of care and our clinics open, it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so under the financial stress that is being felt at this time especially by fee for service doctors. Our contribution, while not very visible, has been to relieve the pressure from ER and other hospital resources, to help them fight the Covid 19 war. 

In that spirit we are proposing, that OMA helps Ontario doctors by making the membership fees voluntary for the next 3 years (until May 1st, 2024)

This petition asks the OMA to work with other associations/organization to also motivate them to lower or possibly waive their fees for at least 3 years. This can allow for thousands of dollars to be put toward maintaining that part of the  healthcare infrastructure that is supported solely by doctors at this time. 

I remain hopeful that OMA being the organization that represents and defends the interests of doctors in this province, truly understands the importance of taking these steps to protect and help its members in this hour of need.