OMA health-care advocates working to create change

Dr. Shehnaz Pabani says she has many reasons for being a health-care advocate, but its importance recently came into even sharper focus for her.

“I just lost my mother and at her end of life, she had her three daughters, including myself, advocating for her,” Dr. Pabani said. “I was thinking, ‘What do the frail elderly who do not have family do when they need health care’?”

Dr. Pabani, a Sudbury family physician for more than 40 years, wants to be a voice for patients who may not have one, particularly seniors, patients with mental health and addiction issues, Indigenous people and new Canadians. Her commitment to advocacy was born from that goal.

“I see a small roster of family practice patients and I also work in urgent care, and I’m quite disturbed by what I see after hours,” she said. “Seriously ill patients who need immediate care, but who cannot get access to their doctor in a timely manner, is not what the people of Ontario deserve.”

Many did not have a primary care physician and those who did, often could not get timely access.

“I just lost my mother and at her end of life, she had her three daughters, including myself, advocating for her. I was thinking, ‘What do the frail elderly who do not have family do when they need health care’?” — Dr. Shehnaz Pabani

As a member of the OMA Physician Leadership Group’s advocacy panel, Dr. Pabani is an OMA health-care advocate. She was among more than 90 physicians who joined the OMA’s Queen’s Park Day late last year, when doctors held close to 40 meetings with politicians from all parties to discuss immediate solutions to increase patient access to care and improve the health-care system.

The OMA has 4,700 registered health-care advocates. They are offered optional training to advocate for physician issues and participate in OMA advocacy activities, such as joining meetings with local MPPs. At this critical time for the Ontario health-care system, the OMA is inviting more physicians to get involved as advocates and is providing more tools, including updating its health-care advocate web page with additional resources. These include an advocacy tool kit, issue fact sheets and insights from health-care advocates.

“Our relationship with our patients is cultivated for years and that relationship translates into a meaningful understanding of what our patients need and where the problems are in the system.” — Dr. David Schieck

Dr. David Schieck, a Guelph family doctor and immediate past chair of the OMA Section on General and Family Practice, became a health-care advocate about 12 years ago to raise the profile of family physicians and the important role they play in the health-care system.

“I think it’s really important that physicians are involved in advocacy because we have that experience on the front lines,” he said. “Our relationship with our patients is cultivated for years and that relationship translates into a meaningful understanding of what our patients need and where the problems are in the system. I think it gives us a lot of credibility when we talk to decision-makers.”

Doctors in ideal position to make an impact

Dr. Rohit Kumar agreed that it is important for physicians to use their voice. An anesthesiologist at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga and chair of Ontario’s Anesthesiologists, a section of the OMA, Dr. Kumar advocates on issues related to surgical care and human resources challenges. On social media, he is an active advocate for timely access to quality patient care. 

“Politicians and community members regard physicians as trusted and knowledgeable, and we are seen as respected members of society,” said Dr. Kumar, adding that having conversations with decision-makers allows physicians to pass on knowledge they can use during discussions in the legislature or with other leaders. 

Dr. Schieck said most decision-makers are open to hearing what physicians and patients are experiencing. “I believe they have a true interest in better understanding the problems and the potential solutions that we can work together on.”

Being involved in advocacy also opens up other opportunities, Dr. Schieck added, such as getting involved in OMA committees or working groups on health policy or other issues. It is also a skill that can be used in positions at hospitals and clinics and when advocating on behalf of patients. “It is something that we should all learn how to do well because our voice does matter.”

“We worked hard to become physicians and ultimately, we’re the quarterbacks of our patients’ medical care. We can’t afford to have our voice and our ability to advocate on behalf of our patients eroded. We need to protect that voice.” — Dr. Rohit Kumar

For physicians considering getting involved in advocacy, Dr. Kumar suggested joining an experienced colleague who needs help. “The OMA also has incredible resources, such as advocacy sessions, and a health advocacy team that can connect you with others who are advocates,” he said.

“Do it at your pace and at your comfort level. We are all incredibly busy, but if we all do a little bit, everybody has to do that much less on their own. Furthermore, spreading our efforts across the province creates a bigger footprint.

“We worked hard to become physicians and ultimately, we’re the quarterbacks of our patient’s medical care. We can’t afford to have our voice and our ability to advocate on behalf of our patients eroded. We need to protect and use that voice.”

Advocacy in action

Prescription for Ontario: Doctors’ 5-Point Plan for Better Health Care is the OMA’s comprehensive blueprint for fixing the health-care system over the next few years. While working on those bigger issues, the OMA has also proposed short-term solutions to address doctor shortages, long wait times and lack of palliative care.

OMA health-care advocates and members are already making progress on these goals. Here are just two examples:

Abigail Cukier is a Toronto-based writer.