A new tentative deal between the provincial government and Ontario doctors has local physicians hoping for fewer restrictions going forward.
The Ontario Government announced the tentative agreement had been reached Monday, after physicians had been working without a deal for the last two years.
While full details have yet to be released, the four-year agreement with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) will see Ontario's Physician Services Budget "co-managed" by doctors and the Ministry of Health. The province says there will also be annual funding increases, geared specifically towards hiring new doctors.
Last year, the Ministry of Health announced a number of unilateral fee cuts for doctors. This new deal could eliminate some of those restrictions. OMA District 1 Chair and Chatham surgeon Dr. Nadine Yammine hopes this will take some pressure off her and her colleagues.
"We can retain physicians here and encourage physicians, who are not ready to retire, to continue working until they are ready," says Yammine. "Instead of being driven solely by whether or not they can cover their overhead."
Overall, Dr. Yammine is encouraged the province is looking to shape future service budgets using advice from healthcare professionals.
"It is good to see and should be reassuring for both physicians and patients, that the government wants to work with physicians who have quite a bit of insight and expertise in our healtchare system," says Yammine.
Physicians are set to vote on the tentative agreement in August.
