National Physicians Day: Honouring Family Doctors Who Advocate

Today is National Physicians Day – a day to appreciate our extraordinary doctors and show gratitude for their dedication to Canadians.  

It’s a well-deserved recognition. Family doctors are the centre of community-based care and are the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking medical care. They work tirelessly for their patients, even as we are challenged by unnecessary administrative tasks, inflationary pressures, and increasing complexity of an inadequate compensation model.  

The best way to thank our physicians is action. Amidst the celebration, it is crucial for the government to acknowledge the challenges that confront family doctors today. The shortage of family physicians in Ontario poses a significant threat to the accessibility and quality of primary care, and family doctors continue to be left behind as the government presents short-sighted, misdirected solutions. Long hours, heavy workloads, and administrative burdens further exacerbate the strain on these frontline healthcare providers.

In our advocacy for family medicine, the SGFP is committed to addressing these challenges head-on. There is a crisis in family medicine, and an urgent need for improved working conditions and support systems to bolster the resilience of our family doctors. By advocating on the public stage for equitable compensation, manageable workloads, and enhanced resources, we are determined to create an environment where family physicians can actually thrive and maintain their practice.

To recognize National Physicians Day and the challenges facing family doctors, we have written a press release and submitted an op-ed on the challenges of being a doctor in Ontario. We will continue to fight the good fight to create a better future for our profession by holding decision makers accountable for the crisis facing family medicine.

Warm regards,

Dr. David Barber, Chair SGFP