Decades of underfunding from the province has forced Optometrists to refer patients to hospitals and emergency rooms.
The Ontario Association of Optometrists is encouraging its 1,800 members to refer patients to hospitals and emergency rooms as part of a job action meant to address its claims of decades of underfunding.
OAO president Sheldon Salaba said the association had no choice but to begin this job action, claiming decades of underfunding from the province have resulted in optometrists covering services “out of pocket” and putting some practices at risk of closing.
We spoke with Dr. Salaba.
The Ontario Ministry of Health did not confirm the claims of underfunding by the OAO. It said in a statement that payments for Ontario Health Insurance Plan-insured services “have risen because of an increase in utilization,” and that the government expected optometrists “to continue to deliver the quality care that patients expect and deserve, as they always have.”
