December 13, 2007

TORONTO – Ontario is even more competitive in physician compensation than figures reported today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman. Today, CIHI released Physicians in Canada: Average Gross Fee-for-Service Payments which covers the 2005/06 year.

“We are headed in the right direction in making Ontario an employer of choice in health care,” said Smitherman. “I look forward to building on this success with our doctors so that an additional 500,000 Ontarians can benefit from family health care.”

Since the year that the report captures, the ministry has invested a further $652 million for physicians that includes incentives to enroll more patients and to treat people with chronic diseases.

Beginning in 2008, an additional $364 million will flow to doctors in recognition of the important care they provide to patients.

Total investments in this deal will total $1.3 billion annually in physician services.

By working together, the McGuinty government and Ontario’s doctors have been able to increase the number of Ontarians with access to a family doctor. Based on independent survey data and data from Statistics Canada, the number of Ontarians with regular access to a family doctor has increased by 500,000.

The additional $652 million of funds dedicated to doctors is being used as follows :

• $285 million to provide Ontarians access to family health care;
• $290 million for better hospital care in areas such as emergency rooms and palliative care;
• $77 million for other areas such as chronic disease management, psychiatry and surgical services.

For further information :

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