Dear Colleagues,

I wanted to salute you on your tireless commitment, dedication and personal sacrifice during the COVID19 pandemic response. I stand alongside you on the frontlines.

The COVID19 pandemic is the most acute challenge facing the OMA and its members. One of the most serious aspects of this crisis is the fact that our members are actively rationing and facing shortages of personal protective equipment. This unconscionable situation has threatened the very lives of our members, and also risks the health of their families.

Exacerbating an already incredibly challenging set of circumstances is the indefinite cancellation of “non-essential” care, clinics and procedures, which has created significant economic uncertainty for physicians across the province.

This unprecedented situation requires the OMA to stand strong for doctors by engaging and working with all other stakeholders. This includes holding governments and administrators accountable for the PPE shortages by forcing real time transparency on PPE data and numbers, liberation of provincial and federal stockpiles and their immediate deployment to clinics and hospitals in need.

Finally, the OMA needs to empower its negotiations taskforce to quickly develop a framework for income stabilization for members during this time, while ensuring frontline members who are at most risk during COVID are supported, financially and otherwise.