How does professionally-led regulation work?
The privilege to self-regulate is given to the medical profession by society on the understanding that we will exercise our authority in the public interest. In actuality, the College is a professionally-led organization working in partnership with the public.
The governing Council consists of at least 32 and no more than 34 members:
• 16 physicians elected by their peers on a geographic basis;
• three physicians appointed from among the six faculties of medicine in Ontario;
• no fewer than 13 and no more than 15 non-physician or‘ public’ members appointed by the provincial government.
Council meets four times a year – we invite you to attend these meetings that are held at our office at 80 College Street, Toronto. If this isn’ t possible, make sure to read Council Update, an e-newsletter that we send you directly following the meeting or look for the“ Reports from Council” article that appears in Dialogue. In this way, you will keep up-to-date on the important issues discussed and the actions taken by Council.
But medicine is no longer one of only a few self-governing health professions as there are more than 20 health regulatory colleges in Ontario.* Each of the health colleges has the responsibility to regulate its members in accordance with provincial legislation.
The role and authority of the College is set out in the Regulated Health Professions Act( RHPA), the Health Professions Procedural Code, the Medicine Act, and the regulations made under these Acts. The functions of its committees – registration; inquiries, complaints and reports; discipline; fitness to practise; quality assurance; premises inspection and patient relations – are also set out in the legislation.
Above all, the College has a duty to serve and protect the public interest. In fact, just as doctors are obligated to put their patients’ best interests first, professional self-regulation must operate in the public interest.
Our Council has developed a strategic plan which sets College priorities for the next several years. The priorities articulated in the strategic plan serve as a guide to action and focus our energies toward attaining our vision – Quality Professionals, Healthy System, Public Trust.
Regulated Health Professions
• Audiology and Speech- Language Pathology
• Chiropody
• Chiropractic
• Dental Hygiene
• Dental Technology
• Dentistry
• Denturism
• Dietetics
• Homeopathy
• Kinesiology
• Massage Therapy
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Medical Radiation Technology
• Medicine
• Midwifery
• Naturopathy
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Opticianry
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology
• Psychotherapy
• Respiratory Therapy
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
Welcome to the College – May 2016 4