Dear Ontario Patients,
In Canada, we take pride in our universal health care. It’s something we all count on to be there when we need it, offering quality care no matter who you are. Now, our health system is in crisis, and too many of you are being left behind.
In Windsor, a teacher waits for a hip replacement. Weeks become months as they endure the agony of walking, sitting, and sleeping. In Rainy River, a family rushes their grandfather to the emergency department. “Temporarily closed,” a sign says, the next nearest hospital a two-hour drive away. In Kingston, hundreds line up at 5:30 a.m. outside a clinic, in a desperate attempt to find a family doctor. Most are turned away.
These stories are not isolated events. They are your reality across our province, every single day. Over 2.5 million Ontarians can’t find a family doctor, and that number is set to reach four million in just two years. You experience long waits, overcrowded emergency departments, and endless delays for surgeries and treatments. Ontarians are caught in a health-care system that’s stretched beyond its capacity and unable to meet their needs.
One thing is clear — our health system is failing in its promise to you.
Despite overwhelming obstacles, Ontario’s doctors remain unwavering in their commitment to you, advocating fiercely for the care you deserve. We see the impact of this broken system on you, your loved ones, and your communities. We witness your fear, your uncertainty, and your pain as we care for you within a system in crisis. When this government was first elected, it promised to end hallway health care. Years later, we are still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled.
The good news is, there is hope. We can get our health-care system back on track, and guarantee all of us have the care we need. We’re calling on the provincial government to Stop the Crisis — to take immediate steps to connect every Ontarian with a family doctor, address the doctor shortage, and build a system that works for you today and for future generations.
We cannot do it alone. We need you — your voice and your support — to make sure your health care is a priority. Visit stopthehealthcrisis.ca to learn more and find out how you can help.
Together, we can rebuild a health-care system that once again makes us proud.
-Dr. Dominik Nowak is President of the Ontario Medical Association