Chair's Message
One of the worst kept secrets in healthcare today was the report of the Expert Advisory Committee on Strengthening Primary Health Care in Ontario, also known as the Price Report. The report has now been released and confirmed what many people suspected. There is no doubt that change is coming to primary care delivery in Ontario.
The Ministry of Health cites several challenges in the provision of healthcare today including access to primary care services, distribution of healthcare resources, and lack of integration in the system among others.
Changes that are being considered include a move to population-based health and a transfer of responsibility for organization of care to a more local level. In Ontario this responsibility will be transferred to the LHINs, who are looking at providing primary care services to population groups at the sub-LHIN level. This will require cooperation and coordination of primary care services within such regions.
It is unfortunate that this is being considered at the same time as there is increasing animosity between Ontario's physicians and the Ministry of Health. Family physicians will be key players in the proposed system change and the Ministry should be taking steps to engage them in this process rather than further alienate them. At the same time physicians need to recognize that the system needs better coordination and there should be more integration and cooperation in providing services.
This is a great opportunity for Ontario's health care system and one can only hope there is movement towards a resolution to the current impasse between physicians and the Ministry of Health so we can pay attention to system transformation for the betterment of our patients.
As always, I welcome your feedback at stephen.wetmore@schulich.uwo.ca.
