NOMA Pushing Health Minister To Make Changes

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is urging Health Minister Deb Matthews to make needed changes to patient enrollment models.
Vice-President Dave Canfield says the region is facing a severe shortage of doctors because physicians who want to practice here can’t gain provincial approval.
Canfield says what works in southern Ontario doesn’t work here.
Canfield notes the current model is based on population and doesn’t take into account the size of surrounding communities and first nations.
The Mayor of Kenora points to his community which has a size of 16,000 people.
He notes the true number is 30,000.
He stresses several doctors are ready to practice in the north but can’t because of red tape.
Canfield says the delay is also hurting recruitment efforts.