It’s been another challenging week, with record highs for COVID and turmoil on either side of the border. I apologize for the late email but this evening the Ministry of Health revealed critical information about the vaccination plan; I wanted to ensure you had the opportunity to hear it first from your Association, including our reaction.
Provincial Vaccine Framework
The Ministry of Health just released a guide for the vaccination plan for Ontario’s health care workers. As demand currently outstrips the supply of vaccine, prioritization and communication of such is essential.
The disappointing situation we are in is that, at this time, there is only sufficient Pfizer and Moderna vaccine for acute (Hospital) and long-term care. However, due to some exceptional work and strong advocacy of OMA, as soon as supply becomes available, community physicians will be a priority.
The framework will continue to undergo revision as more information becomes available, including the OMA continuing to advocate for the importance of having physicians and office staff in community practices immunized. The OMA will also be working with the public health units to create a clear process for doctors to receive the vaccine recognizing that this will be highly dependent on the vaccine supply.
This document complements the prioritization sequence
provided by the Ministry. The purpose being to provide guidance regarding the prioritization of health care workers for vaccination in a manner that balances provincial consistency with regional flexibility and to ensure that the vaccine is delivered in an appropriate, consistent, and equitable manner according to the risks of acquisition of, and adverse outcomes from, COVID-19. The Ministry describes a stepwise approach to decision making: first sectors and settings, based on risk of exposure and patient populations; second, level of community risk; finally individual risk. The Ministry has allowed the release of this document to members, prior to being made publicly available, for which we are grateful.
LTC Humanitarian Crisis
The OMA is stepping up our call for action to address the growing humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Ontario long-term care (LTC) homes. Death rates are soaring, and daily reports confirm that LTC residents are suffering in inhumane conditions — malnourished, dehydrated, and neglected. This is unacceptable.
We’ve worked closely with our Sections to advocate for improvements in long-term care and to develop solutions and supports for those valiantly fighting for resident care and well-being. The heartbreaking reality is that our recommendations have largely gone unheeded.
Next week, the OMA will go public and drive focus to the LTC crisis. Frankly, it is our duty to advocate for protection and care of our elderly. We will be hosting the media to speak with our frontline doctors who are working to protect our most vulnerable patients, and hear first-hand what the challenges are. We can only hope that this moves the dial on this untenable situation.
Statistics Canada Overhead Study Update
Yesterday, the OMA was copied on a joint letter from Statistics Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in response to concerns that personal information had been shared with the OMA in contravention of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Consistent with what I have previously communicated, the joint letter confirmed that no information about any physician has been shared with the OMA and the Stat Can Overhead survey will not proceed until the concerns are addressed. The letter also notes that both CRA and Statistics Canada are not subject to PIPEDA, rather they are subject to the Federal Privacy Act.
The Stat Can project has been mischaracterized as the OMA having access to personal tax records through the CRA. The project does not involve the CRA. The project would involve StatCan providing aggregated by Section anonymous arms-length overhead data. The project was presented to a member-wide town hall with almost 90% endorsement and supported at Council with more than 90% approval. All aspects of the project are compliant with privacy rules.
I want to clarify that this letter does not change the plan to work with external privacy counsel, the Federal Privacy Commissioner, Statistics Canada and CRA to determine what needs to be put in place from a privacy law perspective to allow us to move forward with the project, and to receive approval from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner prior to proceeding, as approved by Council.
Ministry Extends Loan Repayment Timelines
The OMA has been advised that the Ministry of Health is further deferring repayments of “loans” made to physicians under the Advance Payment Program to April 2021. Advance payments made in May, June and July last year will now be recovered from physicians’ billings in six, equal monthly instalments (unchanged) beginning in April 2021 (instead of February). Details, including options for earlier, voluntary repayments, are provided in OHIP INFOBulletin 210103.
While it is reassuring that the Ministry has recognized the impossibility of repayment in February, it is equally unlikely that the pandemic will be over in April, and a deferral of repayments by two months is insufficient. We will continue to advocate strongly for loan forgiveness and other income stability measures.
Finally, I would like to extend best wishes to our Orthodox Christian colleagues. In my ongoing efforts to learn more about the various cultures of our membership, I learnt this year, that while December 25th is the most commonly recognized date in Canada, Orthodox Churches in Russia, Serbia, Jerusalem, Ukraine and other countries use the old “Julian” calendar and celebrate on January 7, along with the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (which is the 29th of Tahsas in their calendar). While most Greek Orthodox members celebrate on the 25th, some observe the 7th, as do some Greek Catholics. Interestingly, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6.
No matter when it was celebrated, I hope that Christmas was meaningful and restorative for our Christian colleagues. May your next Christmas celebrations be filled with family and friends, in person.
Stay safe.
Dr. Samantha Hill (She/Her)
OMA President
Seeking Your Feedback
Please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement:
