Media Action
OCFP in the Media
The OCFP is proactively raising the issues family doctors are facing in the media. From the Canadian Press and across Ontario in communities such as Durham Region, York Region, Guelph, Simcoe County and Peterborough, we are sounding the alarm that family doctors need support.
Media Impact
Here’s a look back at our recent media work and the impact we are having:
Why Does Media Matter?
The OCFP is leveraging data on the growing number of Ontarians without a family doctor to bring our issues and solutions to the forefront. The shortage is making headlines and that means family medicine issues are top of mind for the public.
Public pressure is key to pushing governments to change.
The OCFP advocates for solutions in every media interview. We’re calling for policy changes to:
- Cut overwhelming and unnecessary administrative tasks.
- Give all family doctors, regardless of their payment model, access to teams.
- Make the job better and bring the joy back to family medicine.
Changing the Narrative
In 2022, family doctors were being blamed in the media for not doing enough to keep patients with respiratory illness out of the hospital. The government asked family doctors to do more.
The OCFP pushed back in social and news media. We released new data showing that Ontario’s healthcare system is in crisis – and that includes family medicine. We showed how family doctors were responding and issued a statement. We connected family doctors with media and made clear there was nothing more to give.
It matters. The public narrative is changing.
These days, we are more likely to hear from patients in the media talking about how badly they need a family doctor.
Family Doctors in the Media
OCFP is empowering family doctors to speak out to the media and have your voice heard. Your local media matters to your community and your MPP.
See your peers in action (the following links open external websites):
- Dr. Mekalai Kumanan: Want more family doctors in Ontario? Pay them better, say physicians
- Dr. Jobin Varughese: ‘Sounding the alarm’: 1 in 4 Ontarians could be without family doctor by 2026, groups say
- Dave Courtemanche: More than 62,000 in northeastern Ontario could be without a family doctor by 2026
- Dr. Eric Wong: New data shows 84,000 residents in London area without family doctor
- Dr. Taylor Lougheed: Family doctor in North Bay, Ont., says family medicine is in crisis
- Dr. Doug Gruner: Number of Ottawa residents without a doctor expected to nearly double by 2026 with no change
Want to get involved? We are looking for family doctors from across Ontario to speak out.
See how OCFP is taking political action
We are focused on bringing urgently needed changes to help family doctors in their practice right now.
