OPTICALPRISM | NEWS
Pushed to the brink
Optometrists vote to withdraw OHIP services starting Sept . 1 unless province agrees to negotiations
SUPPLIED BY OAO
Earlier this year , the Ontario Association of Optometrists ( OAO ) launched its largest campaign in history to advocate for fairness and for continued access to quality eye care in Ontario .
For decades the provincial government has neglected optometric care , leaving optometrists now at a breaking point .
If the government doesn ’ t take action now , millions of patients will be without the eye care they need and deserve , come Sept . 1 .
The OAO campaign comes after an overwhelming 96 per cent of optometrists voted to withdraw OHIP services starting Sept . 1 unless the province agrees to legally binding negotiations to fund these services at least to the cost of delivery .
To help raise awareness of the campaign with patients , OAO provided all optometrists with a tool kit , which includes print and digital resources for their practices to share with patients . In addition , the association has also been working with media to further gain awareness , interviewing with multiple media outlets across the province .
OAO and its members have been directing Ontarians to the SaveEye- Care . ca website to send letters to their MPP expressing their concerns . In addition , OAO members have been collecting signatures in their practices on the Save Eye Care petition .
As of July 26 , 89,027 Ontarians have sent emails through the website to their local MPP , while another 63,898 patients have added their name to the Save Eye Care petition .
The OAO is committed to seeing this through and to making change happen .
Help us stand up for eye care so that Ontarians can continue to access high quality eye care that is timely and close to home .
Visit SaveEyeCare . ca for more information . OP
ABOUT THE ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF
OPTOMETRISTS : The Ontario Association of Optometrists ( OAO ) is the leading professional organization , representing over 1,800 optometrists . We are dedicated to helping our members provide the highest standard of eye health and vision care for Ontarians while driving the profession of optometry forward .
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