Ontario doctor shortage getting worse says Liberal Leader

 

 

By: Folashade Adetuyi

There are three million Ontarians who are at risk of losing their family doctors to retirement, according to a governement of Ontario report. The reports show 2,300 family physicians over the age 60, serving 3.1 million patients.  Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie says, "This is something that we should have been planning for six years now."

"4.1 million people in Ontario, are not signed up to a family doctor," Crombie says, "Three million more are at risk of losing their family doctor, in the next five years, as thousands of doctors approach retirement age. 205 municipalities don't have a single family doctor who signs up patients."

Crombie released the report on Wednesday, after being leaked by an unknown source. It shows municipalities, where patients are "rostered" to a family doctor over the age of 60. In Collingwood, 38% of the doctors are over 60.  They take care of almost half of  the  30,660 patients. Belleville has 28 percent of  family physician over the age of 60, with a roster accounting for 45% patients. While in Mississauga, 31 to 34% of patients, also have a physicians in their 60s.

Province opening new med schools

Minister of Health Sylvia Jones  says, "Retirements are exactly why we've made the investment. Expanding access to medical schools, expanding the number of seats, and expanding the number of medical schools in the province of Ontarios."

Next year July, Toronto Metropolitian University is scheduled to open a school of  medicine.

In 2028 York University is also scheduled to open the school of medicine. The school will be a part of Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, which will play a role that increase the number of family doctors in the area.