Ontario's Naturopathic Doctors Respond to the Ontario Budget

TORONTO, March 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Today's Ontario budget establishes that new approaches are needed, particularly around prevention, to ensure that Ontario's healthcare system is sustainable.

Ontario's 1,200 regulated naturopathic doctors are already providing the kind of health care that Ontario's Action Plan calls for. Naturopathic doctors help keep our patients healthy through our unique expertise in addressing preventable risk factors, managing or even reversing chronic disease, lowering reliance on expensive pharmaceuticals, and more. As primary care providers, naturopathic doctors are already helping to keep patients from having to visit an ER, and can do more.

With the proposed change in the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, even more seniors are likely to be interested in naturopathic care that can prevent the onset of chronic disease and provide alternatives to pharmaceuticals. 

"Naturopathic doctors can help with healthcare transformation. More can be done to achieve what we all want, which is to have good health, and save health care dollars in the process," said Elias Markou, ND, Chair of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors. "A major focus of naturopathic care is to address risk factors to help prevent the onset of cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. We treat the root cause of health conditions that otherwise may place major demands on the public healthcare system."

The new Naturopathy Act is intended to modernize the regulation of naturopathic doctors, and remove current barriers to Ontario's naturopathic doctors using their full training and capability. Health Minister Deb Matthews has said she recognizes the importance of all health professions "contributing their full potential to the benefit of patients."

About the OAND
The Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) represents Ontario's registered NDs. Naturopathic doctors are highly educated primary care providers who integrate standard medical diagnostics with a broad range of natural therapies. Naturopathic care is covered by most group insurance programs.

For more information about the OAND, visit our web site www.oand.org

or to set up interviews with naturopathic doctors please contact:

Ronda Parkes, Director of Marketing
Phone: [phone] ext 228
Email: [email protected]