OMA MEMBERSHIP REJECTS PHYSICIAN SERVICES AGREEMENT. 55% VOTED IN PERSON & BY PROXY. 63.1 % VOTING MEMBERS REJECTED THE AGREEMENT

OMA GENERAL MEETING on PHYSICIAN SERVICES AGREEMENT Aug. 15 @ ALLSTREAM BUILDING in CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION GROUNDS.

Admin.problem: Grounds were closed to cars as preparation for Exhibition in progress. Approx 800 attended. 2000 expected. MEDIA INVITED.  At Council meetings MEDIA EXCLUDED. Globe & Mail,  National Post,, Tor Star reports good but missed the important point that OHIP pay GROSS not NET for fee-for-service. $600,000 needed to open an Ophthalmic office, Millions for Imaging.clinic. Usual 40% overhead for Toronto GP office (including rent). No difference of fee for Totonto or Northern Timmins office, Strong group from COALITION of ONTARIO DOCTORS for NO vote. Ciculated  ECONOMIC ANALYSIS by Emeritus U. Toronto Prof ECONOMICS J. L. CARR Summary: 1)VAGUENESS of the Phys. Service agreement. 2) IGNORING EFFECT of INFLATION. 2.5% increase yearly for 4y in `NOMINAL`DOLLARS.`does not in any way consider the effects of inflation`,3) DOCTORS ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCREASED USAGE IN THE SYSTEM. 4) DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR SYSTEM STABILITY Ìf utilization rates increases above 3.1 % there will be substantial and significant  payment reductions.`5) NEGATIVELY AFFECTS PATIENT ACCESSIBILITY if payments to doctors decrease.,

COMMENT: In 1974 motto of U,Tor School of Public Health was BREAK THE MEDICAL MODEL. Now Nurse Practiotioners, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, taking over most of the work of GPs. New PharmD degree at Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy will allow Pharsms to  diagnose, investigate & treat,

OMA suggested GP salary rates and benefits. $351 NET hourly rate for part-time work.

Level 1 $171,904
Level 2  (2-5 years experience) $277,625
Level 3  (5-10 y.) $285,061
Level 4  (extra admin) $297,827
Level 5  ( top admin) $337,850

Extra if SPECIALIST
Extra for areas with high residential costs
Vacation: 1 month
CME 1 week
Statutory Holidays (11)
Extra if no pension plan.
Employer pays fees for CMPA,CPSO & OMA.

OHIP pays GPs approx $130 / hr.GROSS (overhead approx 40%) for fee-for-service, NO BENEFITS. NO PENSION. NO WORKERS' INSURANCE for communicable disease, accidental injury in office and when travelling between places of work. Also physical injury by patient/ MD pays all professional fees.

SIEMENS: ALBUSTIX Reagent strips for microalbuminuria.. Availaable in Canada

This test not paid by OHIP if done in MD office.

Strips made in Poland.

SIEMENS Healthcare Diagnostics Ltd
Tarrytown, NY 10591-5097.

ROGAINE 5% Minoxidil for androgenic alopecia. OTC.

5% now sold in CANADA. Before only 2% available.  In UK 5% sold in 2010.(BNF p 722) In UK 5% licenced for men only.

Daily Mail: Rio- viral contamination of sea water

Virus level 1.7 Million times danger level in UK. Athletes advised to keep head above water.  Comment: Advice difficult to put in practice!

STATS CAN; Cost of Medical care in Ontario approx $3,600 per person.

Popn.ONTARIO approx. 14-million
Cost of Provincial Medical Insurance  $50.1-billion
(COMMENT:No general Dental coverage..Meds mainly free after 65y. Those on Welfare get free basic dentistry and most meds)

$3.600 per person average cost of medical care.

90,000 immigrants yearly. (COMMENT-Refugees get immediate Insurance cover. Other immigrants have to wait 3 months. Can buy private insurance to cover first 3 months.Benefits vary by Province. Ontario now paying for IVF and Surgical transgender change. Free Abortion on Demand  to 24 weeks.)