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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 21, 1986 Letters OHIP: A Physician's view (From page 5) who have opted out. Many of our pa- tients, face decreased accessibility due to long waits for referrals, and for treatments at major centres. . Many also are forced to wait for beds to be available at our own hospital. I do not beliéve that "ex- "tra" billing can be blamed for this. Secondly, this legislation takes away my right to set a fair fee for services, but it bestows no obliga- tion whatsoever on the ministry to negotiate -a fair settlement. The ministry will have absolute and unilateral control over the schedule of benefits. The physicians of this provice will be civil servants under absolute control of the ministry with 'no rights of negotiation. Having served on many com- munity boards, including the hospital board, having donated many hours to hospital committees, having accepted 70 per cent as full payment, and having done so without threat, why am I now being treated in this manner? I resent it. I feel the problems with OHIP can be solved in consultation rather than confrontation. I agree with the OMA that a review of the entire OHIP system is in order. Finally, I would ask that those of Chatterbox by Cathy Robb (From page 5) face close to the camera, glasses distorted by the lens. 'You know how much that would cost you? That would cost you nearly five hundred bucks and Ron isn't even worth five bucks!" Ron tittered at this too. In fact, Ron tittered at just about everything in the film (maybe laughed outrageously is a more accurate description), especially the scenes with Donna. Donna, you see, opens up the film. The camera panns their dark bedroom, lingering over the wed- ding picture beside their bed. Fri- day the 13th music is playing in the background. Suddenly, the lights come up as Donna springs to a sitting position and screams "WHERE'S RON?" She then proceeds to search for her 'missing' hubby, looking behind the shower curtain, in the toilet, in the closet ---- normal places you might find a missing husband. The film is tied together by the investigator, a Joe Friday clone named Man Friday, who Donna hires to track down the elusive Ron. The investigator , played admirably by my boyfriend Doug Olliffe, is a crack detective who drinks too much, -smokes too much and is much too much dramatic (like slinking around phone booths ---- that sort of thing). It's the investigator who "inter- views" all Ron's friends, going from "Ron's favourite drinking hole, a sleazy little dive on the east side" to the victim of Ron's gambling habits ---- a weepy lit- tle girl named Melissa who didn't get a bike for Christmas because her mother had to put five bucks in Ron's work pool every week. And, of course, he chatted with Ron's brother Mike, supposedly "serving a ten year sentence in Sing Sing." Like Sing, Sing, the entire film story was fabricated, and for Ron, it was hilarious. For everybody else, it was just another home movie. Yawn, who's got the popcorn? you who feel that you have receiv- ed quality accessible health care from your physician tell him and write to your Minister of Health. If you wish your physician to be an in- dependant, concerned professional rather than a civil servant, tell him that as well, and again write your Minister of Health. I believe that your health care will be better with your physician working for you. Sincerely, John I. Stewart M.D. Port Perry. 'Extra- billing (From page 5) more attention to preventative medicine, eg. the effects of pollution on our health, and how to prevent that pollution from taking place, and a greater emphasis on home care. There are other professionals such as nurses as well as many workers in the health care system. I hope the doctors along with these other pro- fessionals and workers will involve themselves in the efforts to change our system so that it is the best there is for everyone whether rich or poor. Yours sincerely, - Margaret Wilbur, R.R. 4, Port Perry. Fun on the roads Dear Sir: I've been "lucky" enough to be working in your fair community for 4 years now and have reluctantly en- dured such quaint local customs as U turns on the Main drag, pedestrians on side roads defying horrified motorists to bash them, and a seemingly paralysis of the brain when turn signal use comes in- to question. But, I am somewhat perplexed by the latest fad that has reared its ugly head around here. I am, of course, referring to the new ~ sport on Regional Road 8 of large non-tarped container trucks innun- dating the landscape with debris. In one day my mouest compact car was bludgeoned with cardboard boxes, gouged by large metal ob- jects and forced to rally round timbers embedded with spikes. What's the prize in this contest? A closed tour of the tire repair shop? Maybe a weekend for two in the Rubber Room at the Whitby Hilton? If there ain't a law against this henious highway honour there ought to be! Sincerely, R.C. Rolston B.A. B.Ed. Uxbridge Township "FARM INSURANCE Main concern is for patients Dear Sir: The concern expressed by most of Ontario's 7,500 Family Doctors who oppose the Peterson government's proposed Health Care Accessibility Act deserves special attention. Unlike many of our physician col- leagues, most Family Doctors (greater than 95 per cent) are not opted out, and do not "extra bill." Our concern is for-our patients and the future of our health care system, and our fight is for the freedom of those of us living and practicing medicine in a country which once took pride in protecting the rights and respecting the integrity of in- dividuals such as ourselves. Over the past decade, the costs in- volved in maintaining a quality health care system have escalated and the public purse has been stret- ched beyond its capacity to afford the resources required. Rather than admitting its failure to come to grips with this scenario, governments have found it politically expedient to create the myth that paying doctors is the problem. As Family Doctors whose role each day is to act as ad- vocates on behalf of those for whom we care, we are asking our elected officials to review the facts and to address the real issues of concern to our patients. We applaud any discussion which honestly addresses the issue of "accessibility" -- but, surely, when we speak of better ac- cess, we must be speaking about issues such as improving the facilities and resources available to care for the elderly, the disabled, the abused, and the underprivileg- ed; surely we must be referring to the need for increased community services, improved home care pro- grams, and more appropriate utilization of our hospitals for both in-patient and out-patient care. Surely we must recognize that it is 'in areas such as these that the real problems with accessibility to health care exist: For most Family Doctors, passage of the Peterson govern- ment's health bill will have little or no impact upon our income -- but will have major impact upon our freedom and our rights. For most of our patients, passage of this Act will make little or no difference with respect to their access to doctors -- but it will also do nothing with respect to improving their access to other vital health care needs. The real problem, facing not only doc- tors but all Canadians, is not "extra billing." It is the ongoing trend towards underfunding and the resul- tant deterioration of our health care Pharmacy break-in Durham Regional Police are con- tinuing an investigation into an ear- ly morning break-in at the Durham Pharmacy on Paxton Street. A police spokesman said the outer door of the medical building was pried open and an inner door to the pharmacy area was smashed. The break-in set off an alarm and officers were on the scene in a mat- ter of minutes. The police spokesman said a "substantial" amount of narcotic drugs were reported stolen. DJ TAYLO INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. 170 Water Street North, Port Perry - 985-8416 Also see us about your Home, Life, Auto. Commercial and Mortgage Insurance needs. system. The real dilemma facing the population of Ontario today is not related simply to accessibility to health care -- it is rather more significantly the question of ac- cessibility to political wisdom. Sincerely Calvin Gutkin, MD FCFP(EM) President, Ontario Chapter -College of Family Physicians of Canada Edito rial Comments (From page 4) The Easter Seal Society doesn't perform miracles, but it does help thousands of children to reach their potential, to lead a full and happy life despite their disabilities. The advances in the past few years in new technology to help disabled children are astounding. But the costs are high and will con- tinue to be high over the next few years in the technology. as more advances are made If you have access to a snowmobile, you can help. Make the ef- fort to get a pledge sheet and ask your friends and relatives to spon- sor you for a few dollars. Show up at the Latcham Centre and go for a ride. Remember, you're riding for ch ildren" who can't do it for themselves. How about beating that target of $25,000? --y---- ANNUAL WINTER SALE ave pe 0 ()" FURNITURE, on our fine selection of Wallpape 'RQ Paint 20 Large assortment of. Accessories ..00% 185 QUEEN ST, PORT Dont Miss this Once a Year Event OPEN: Weekdays '® Saturday 9:30 - 5:30 FRIDAYS TILL 9:00: SUNDAYS 1:00 - 5:00 PERRY «985-8234 po ey ]