TORONTO – The McGuinty government is investing an additional $33 million over the next three years to support the training of an additional 141 new family physicians each year, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"Ontario needs more family doctors because they are often the first point of contact for people seeking health care," Smitherman said. "The investments we're making today will help our medical schools, hospitals and family medicine clinics train more family doctors each year."

Today's funding is delivering on the government's commitment to increase family medicine positions by 70 per cent. The investment includes $10 million in capital funding for family medicine teaching sites associated with four medical schools at McMaster University, the University of Ottawa, the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario. It also provides $23 million in operating funding over three years to support the increased costs associated with training more family medicine residents. Family medicine teaching sites include clinic settings within hospitals and community family medicine clinics that are affiliated with these universities, as well as the universities themselves.

Queen's University and the University of Western Ontario received funding in March of this year, when the government began the expansion of the family medicine program.

"This is a clear signal from the government that family medicine is a highly valued field of medicine," said Dr. Adam Natsheh, President of the Professional Association of Internes and Residents of Ontario. "The government's support will help to strengthen the post-graduate family medicine programs across the province."

The increase in family residency positions means there will be 337 additional family doctors ready to practise in Ontario by 2008.

Today's announcement makes it possible for more medical students to take up family medicine, and makes it easier for Ontario universities and hospitals to provide this training. Restoring the vitality of the family practitioner has been a priority for the McGuinty government, and the agreement reached last winter between the government and Ontario's doctors supports this objective.

Increasing family residency positions is part of the McGuinty government's plan to build a health care system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and improving access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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