The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is warning a serious physician workforce crisis is looming.
A report indicates we are facing an unpredictable and fragile Northern physician workforce, with many clinicians on the brink of retiring or withdrawing from some services.
It goes on to say clinicians continue to be under-resourced, overwhelmed and only able to focus on immediate patient care needs.
The School says the COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation worse.
Officials say those who remain in the Northern physician workforce are deeply worried and concerned that the north is in the same crisis it was when the original review of need made its recommendations 20 years ago.
Current physician shortages and vacancies include:
-more than 100 family physicians
-more than 100 specialists in the five Northern urban hospitals, but also in large rural communities like Sioux Lookout and Kenora.
