Belleville City Council approved receiving a report about the physician recruitment and retention initiatives and having the recommendations from the report be brought for discussion at council’s budget meetings.
In a report from Manager of Physician Recruitment and Retention Karen Poste, it outlines two ways the city can provide support to local physicians.
These include developing a provincial lobbying program as well as the development of the Family Physician Appreciation Fund (FPAF) that could provide financial support for things like taking on new patients, buying new equipment or software, and supporting training costs and benefits for staff to alleviate some of the current financial strain – at least until provincial funding levels are increased.
The report notes multiple times that healthcare is a provincial responsibility and that the municipal tax system is not designed or conducive to funding a large portfolio like health care.
When discussing the report, Councillor Paul Carr was critical of the province.
“Here we are, $7.5 million invested thus far into recruitment, and it’s interesting that when we see our local MPPs celebrate that recruitment, every time that we spend municipal tax dollars, really, truly, it’s a failure on behalf of the province for not fulfilling their responsibilities and providing primary care in Ontario,” Councillor Carr told council.
“So they’re actively and publicly encouraging the municipality to continue to fund primary care.”
Councillor Sean Kelly also spoke on the report, calling on the province to do more to address the issue of family doctors.
“We come back to the municipal level, asking for more from the taxpayer at the municipal level, and my interest is in the City of Belleville and the taxpayers,” Kelly said.
“It’s time that the provincial government step up to the plate with some real money, real vision and a commitment to people’s health.”
The report can be found at the City of Belleville’s website.
