Fair Remuneration
Like other small businesses, family doctors are struggling with rising costs.
A family doctor’s office runs just like a small business, with costs for staff, rent and equipment. On average, 33% of a family doctor’s funding from government goes to paying business expenses.* But unlike other small businesses, Ontario’s family doctors can’t increase their prices to cover the growing costs of running their practice.
Rising Costs VS. Stagnant Funding
Despite the rising cost of expenses for Ontario’s family doctors, government funding has not kept up.
With costs continuing to rise, family doctors are telling us that they are struggling to keep up with the growing expenses of running a family doctors office. Some are deciding to close their doors.
Staff Cost Increases
Family doctors hire admin staff, nursing staff and more to support their patients.
15% increase from 2017
Equipment and Technology Increases
Family doctors buy their own medical supplies and devices including technology, with some reporting spending nearly $6,000 a year in digital health costs.
7%-8% in the last year alone
Office Rental Increases
Family doctors are responsible for finding and financing their own offices.
18% increase from 2017
Compensation must keep pace with inflation and reflect the complex care that family doctors provide.
The OCFP has called for a fair wage recalibration for family doctors and has supported and supplemented the OMA’s position. We have highlighted the rising costs of family practice and emphasized the critical role of family doctors in Ontario’s healthcare system.
Urgent action is needed to address doctors’ compensation, which is not keeping pace with inflation and is undermining the profession and patients’ access to care.
We remain steadfast in raising our concerns with government.
In the Media
The OCFP is bringing the issue of compensation to the forefront.
Want more family doctors in Ontario? Pay them better, say physicians (External website)
Family doctor in North Bay, Ont., says family medicine is in crisis (External website)
More than 62,000 in northeastern Ontario could be without a family doctor by 2026 (External website)
On Social Media
We’re raising our voice for family doctors.
The OCFP has posted a statement and has shared infographics and quotes from our members to highlight the challenges family doctors are facing due to the rising costs of family practice.
Government funding must keep up with the rising costs of running a family doctor’s office. Let family doctors focus on seeing more patients; not worry about keeping their doors open.
*Data Sources: Statistics Canada (Tables 14-10-0204-01, 18-10-0005-01, 18-10-0267-01, 14-10-0204-01); Cushman and Wakefield
(Ottawa and Toronto office rental rates); and PwC Study of Physician Income, Hours of Work and Overhead.