City approves $500k in funds to enhance physician recruitment efforts

Orillia City Council has approved $500,000 in funding to support initiatives that will attract new physicians to the city.

“With a significant portion of our population in need of primary care and many existing physicians nearing retirement, Orillia must take proactive steps to ensure long-term healthcare stability,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “This funding will directly support efforts to attract and retain family physicians, making Orillia a more competitive and desirable place for healthcare professionals.”

The City says this investment comes at a critical time, as Orillia faces a growing need for primary care providers.

The decision was made at Council’s Monday meeting after the City-Operated Medical Clinic Working Group recommended that supporting physician recruitment initiatives is the most effective way to address the community’s healthcare needs.

The city says the money was originally approved by council back in January. Members of the working group included City Council members, along with representatives from the Couchiching Ontario Health Team, Orillia and Lake Country Physician Recruitment, along with various medical professionals.

Over the past several months, the City-Operated Medical Clinic Working Group explored several strategies including establishing a municipally operated medical clinic, retrofitting existing City-owned space for a medical practice, and providing direct financial incentives to physicians.

However, after consulting with industry experts the group decided that the funding dedicated towards physician recruitment efforts would be one of the most effective impacts at this time.

“This investment will have a direct impact on our community by helping us recruit and retain the physicians we desperately need,” said Marino Fernandopulle, Chair of the Orillia and Lake Country Physician Recruitment Committee. “We look forward to developing a comprehensive business plan on how we can best utilize these funds to stay competitive and provide support to incoming physicians.

The City says these funds are set to enhance current recruitment strategies, provide incentives, and strengthen partnerships with medical schools and healthcare networks with a goal of attracting new doctors to the city.

Under the approved motion, the Orillia and Lake Country Physician Recruitment Committee must submit a comprehensive business plan to Council outlining how the funds will be used.

The City-operated Medical Clinic Working Group says they will continue to explore various strategies to attract primary care physicians to Orillia and will report all findings back to Council.