Cambridge doctor reflects on term as OCFP president

It was an unpredictable time for family physicians in 2022.

When Dr. Mekalai Kumanan took over as president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians two years ago she was given the responsibility of advancing advocacy for the work of family doctors in support of their patients while also navigating in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With several issues within the system, Kumanan focused her efforts in three key areas to enhance care across the province.

Investments in team-based care, reducing the administrative burden on physicians and advocating for greater compensation to increase interest in family medicine, and assisting with the cost of running a practice were top of mind for the Cambridge doctor.

Work may still remain in all three of those areas but Kumanan is proud of what's already been accomplished.

"When I stepped into the role two years ago, we were at the peak of the pandemic and there was a lot of awareness about the issues that were being faced in the other parts of the system like emergency room backlogs and intensive care units being over full," Kumanan said.

"We weren’t hearing the challenges of family physicians. We were trying to do everything we could do to support our patients in the middle of a really challenging time and often facing moral distress when we couldn't connect our patients with what they needed. What I’m most proud of is being able to raise awareness around the issues in family medicine and the value we as family physicians bring."

As part of the 2024 budget, the Ontario government has allocated $546 million over three years to expand primary care teams in an effort to connect over 600,000 people to team-based care. It's a critical step in ensuring everyone has access to a family physician, Kumanan said.

Back in May, it was believed that roughly 13,000 residents in Cambridge alone were without a doctor.

Kumanan previously estimated that around 25 per cent of a doctor's time is spent on administrative tasks such as charting but advances in artificial intelligence could soon lessen the load.

"We're seeing some progress but we know more needs to be done," she said.

"All of us need to remember family medicine is the foundation of the heath care system."

Kumanan's term was also historic, as she became the first person of colour to be named president of the OCFP.

Brampton doctor Jobin Varughese has been named as her successor and it's a choice Kumanan believes is a good one.

"I'm very confident Dr. Varughese will lead the OCFP so we continue to see the investments we need in family medicine," she said.

"It's so important we see those investments so we can ultimately do our best work in caring for patients."

As for Kumanan's plans now that her term is complete, she's focusing on her own practice with the Two Rivers Family Health Team and looking forward to spending more time with her family.

"I’m really enjoying being able to focus on my practice and see the patients I’ve known for many years," she said.

"I do have a young family, so it's nice to be able to get some time back and be outdoors with them."