Doctors say system in trouble; minister wants predictable budget continued from p.1 Kovacs, who has been a family physician for 25 years and is also a hospitalist, a Halton coroner and a professor at McMaster University, told the Oakville Beaver Tuesday (April 19) the effects of cuts to health care can no longer be overlooked. He claims many family doctors are fighting to keep their practices afloat because of the high cost of running a business. "They've had to cut staff and, in many cases, cut hours to deal with the decreased funding available from the government," said Kovacs, noting expenses, including insurance, are expensive. The situation is discouraging new physicians to come to Ontario, doctors are retiring at a faster rate and there isn't anyone to replace them, he continued. "I teach the residents, I'm a professor at McMaster (University), and about 70 per cent of the graduating class who are finishing their residency have decided to leave Ontario," noted Kovacs, who also has a law degree and a background in law and medicine. He's frustrated the government isn't seeing how this will affect patients and the health-care system. Physicians, he says, invest a lot of money into the health infrastructure. "We support a lot of the economy. The money we are paid from OHIP (Ontario Health Insur"To deny there is a problem and say it's the hospital's problem, for instance, is being disingenuous and that needs to change. The message from the ministry needs to be more honest with a more forthright discussion about the real issues." In a statement issued to the Oakville Beaver, Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins said the government values the work doctors do and that's why the average amount doctors earn in Ontario has increased over the past decade. The physician services budget represents almost 10 per cent of every dollar the government, as a whole, spends in the province, which works out to just under $12 billion a year, he stated in an email Wednesday (April 20). At an average gross income of more than $368,000 per year, he noted they are the "best paid because they are the best." But, with that said, Hoskins explained over the past three years, the government has gone over-budget on what it pays physicians by hundreds of millions of dollars. "Right now, most doctors in this province bill for every service they provide, effectively setting their own salary. That means no matter what budget figure we've projected, we have to somehow find the extra from other areas of the health-care system, knowing that it means less for access, less for home care, less for palliative care and for other needed services," he said. Another challenge, Hoskins noted is what he see Health on p.4 3 | Friday, April 22, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Dr. Nadia Alam ance Plan) that is from the government goes back into the economy," Kovacs noted. "The government says it isn't having an affect, but it is." He added policy changes have also made it difficult, "if not impossible," for newly graduated doctors to join existing practices or open a practice where they want. Kovacs insists the fight is less about money, than about the Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care's lack of respect and patients, who are ultimately being shortchanged. He's participating in the rally at Queen's Park Dr. James Kovacs in hopes of bringing attention to the impasse between Ontario doctors and the provincial government as it comes to a head. He'd like to see a more predictable funding envelop for doctors and binding arbitration -- an alternative dispute resolution to end this standoff between doctors and government. "The government needs to be honest about what they're doing with health-care funding, in general," he said, criticizing that hundreds of nurses have been laid off in hospitals in recent months because of inadequate funding the government is providing to hospitals. New Patients Ar Are AL ALW WAYS Welcome PLAN TO FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES? WE HAVE... OAKVILLE'S LOWEST AIRPORT FLAT RATES! $ Starting at 45 Call us to reserve your ride · Evening & Weekend Appointments Available · Female Dentist Available · Same Day Appointments · Same Day Emergency · Walk-in Service · Family & Cosmetic Dentistry · Insurance Billed Directly · Digital X-Rays · Sedation for Children & Adults Call today to book your appointment Dr. Manchanda www.oakvilleunitedtaxi.com 905.338.0044 627 Lyons Lane, Suite 100 www www.doctor4teeth.com Oakville, ON 905-339-1666