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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, September 15, 2016 | 4 Doctors refuse to deliver cuts to health care: Kovacs by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff The ongoing fight between Ontario doctors and the provincial government isn't about income, says Oakville and Burlington Dr. James Kovacs. By walking away from the proposed deal, doctors aren't being greedy, but rather refusing to participate in what Kovacs characterizes as an attempt to limit health-care services in Ontario through the doctors. "The doctors spoke loudly that we're leaving it. We're not going to be a part of an attempt to limit services to Ontario," said the family physician of 25 years, who argues Ontario doctors are fighting to get patients the proper care they need. A precarious position "It put doctors in the precarious position of having to be the arbitrator of services to patients. It puts us in a conflict of interest. If we provide fewer services, we actually get money back from the government. If we work harder, we would probably have to pay back Now that the kids are back to school, it's time to take care of yourself! money to the government. So, it was really untenable as an agreement," he said. "The context really is that the government only has so much money to spend on different services, but they're trying to limit the health-care budget as they see fit," said Kovacs, who is a hospitalist, a Halton coroner and a professor at McMaster University. "But it really puts physicians in a position that they can't provide the services they need to and we know with population growth, increasing illnesses, and more doctors coming into the system, it's just nothing we can agree to." Ontario doctors voted down a tentative deal with the Province of Ontario last month. It would have seen the physician service budget grow by 2.5 per cent annually -- to $12.9 billion by 2020. Sixty-three per cent against Kovacs was among the 63 per cent of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) membership in disagreement with the deal. He argued it was no good because it put a cap on physician services, limiting money Dr. James Kovacs available for physicians to provide care to patients. The seven per cent salary cut that had already taken place over the last few years would also be enshrined, not to mention the fact the 2.5 per cent increase would not keep up with population growth, he said. "In short, if physicians went over that budget, we would have to pay the overage back to the government, and if physicians came under the agreed amount, we'd get money back from the government," explained Kovacs, who also has a law degree and a background in law and medicine. Kovacs can't predict the outcome of discussions between the provincial government and Ontario doctors, but he said many doctors, like him, are stepping forward to have their voices heard. It's time to be political "The realization is that the only way there's going to be meaningful change to help the patients of Ontario is that doctors have to be engaged in political process," Kovacs noted. "We have tried to be apolitical, but the understanding now is we really need to be involved." If there is to be any movement forward, he said, it requires an open and healthy discussion. He criticized the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for "trying to put it on the doctors that doctors are greedy." Doctors feel there needs to be more transparency and honesty from the government, Kovacs said. "At the present time, the government holds all the power, and when we negotiate with the government, it's not really a negotiation, it's the government saying here's the deal, take it or leave it," he said. see Doctors on p.11 Services available: · Personal Training · Boot Camps · Weight Loss/Management · Osteopathy · Naturopathic Medicine · Massage Therapy · Acupuncture Testing available: · Organic Acid Testing · Live Blood Analysis - over 20 years of experience · Hair Mineral Analysis · Food Allergy/IgG & IgE Food Sensitivity Testing · Comprehensive Stool Analysis · Saliva Month Long Hormone Testing · Gluten Testing DIAMOND DIAMOND Won't Be Beat If you find a cheaper price, simply show us and we will match.* 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2014, 2015, 2016 FREE FITNESS ASSESSMENT! Naturopathic Doctor #22-2172 Wyecroft Rd., Oakville, ON L6L 6R1 Dr. Nyla Jiwani ND chris robertson persoNal traiNer 905-825-9996 · www.onwc.ca NoFrillS owNer'S Sale 344 WOW we're locally owned! 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