Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Sohail Gandhi, President of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), and Dr. Neil Maharaj, a Pulmonologist who practices in Niagara Falls.

The OMA conducted a survey of it’s members, amid the COVID-19 health crisis, in which it found that almost half of primary care workers in Ontario are at risk of having to close their practices because doctors are unable to pay off expenses. Of course, the pandemic has forced many doctors to turn to virtual health care as a means to continue delivering their services. However, this too has been posing financial challenges for doctors since the government-run system setting up new billing codes for such doctors to be paid properly for their appointments won’t be updated until June or July.

Dr. Gandhi worries that such a reality could lead to a primary care crisis in Ontario. And, Dr. Maharaj details just how difficult this reality has been for him and his team. So far, he’s had to lay off staff, reduce the working hours of remaining employees and has taken a personal financial hit as well.

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