OTTAWA, May 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Dr. John Haggie, President of the Canadian
Medical Association (CMA), today expressed his hope that the Ontario
government would return to discussions with the province's doctors and
continue the work already begun to transform the health care system to
make it patient centred.
"Ontario's doctors have put forward several ideas around improving
efficiency and boosting quality of health care services to patients,"
added Dr. Haggie. "They have much more to offer and now is no time for
the government to turn its back on the role physicians can play in
advancing the cause of improving care for their patients."
Over the course of the past year, Dr. Haggie has reached out to
governments at all levels, urging them to pursue a principled-based
approach to transforming the health care system so that it puts
patients first. The Ontario health minister has also cited the need for
health care transformation, going back as far as 2010, when she lauded
proposals made for transformation put forward by Canada's doctors and
shared them with counterparts at a meeting of federal, provincial and
territorial health ministers.
"Every player in the health care system must be engaged in bringing
about the transformational changes so desperately needed," said Dr.
Haggie. "Seeking to impose change and taking a dictatorial approach is
not the answer because engagement and buy-in is critical to creating a
high-performing health care system."
Dr. Haggie added that Ontario's doctors have worked with government to
identify solutions that would both save money and provide higher
quality care to Ontario residents.
"We know that the Ontario government has championed the need for
transforming health care so that it puts patients first," said Dr.
Haggie. "It's baffling that the Ontario government would now ignore the
opportunity to collaborate with physicians on finding efficient ways to
provide high-quality health care."
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian
physicians. Founded in 1867, CMA's mission is to serve and unite the
physicians of Canada and be the national advocate, in partnership with
the people of Canada, for the highest standards of health and health
care. The CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing
over 77,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and
territorial medical associations and 51 national medical organizations.
