The AMC wants an end to medical tickets for short-term absences

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) wants the elimination of requirements from companies to their employees regarding sick certificates for minor, short-term health problems.

The CMA argues that this could prevent up to 12.5 million unnecessary interactions within the healthcare system in a single year.

A survey conducted by Abacus Data for the CMA indicated that about a third of Canadian workers have been asked by their employer to provide sick leave for a short-term absence at least once in the past year.

“It’s frustrating for doctors because we want to be able to spend what little time we have caring for patients who really need medical care, not filling out paperwork to solve a human resources problem,” said the president of the AMC, the D^re Joss Reimer, during an interview.

“It’s also frustrating for people who have to go to hospital, because if you have a migraine or the flu, the last thing you want to do is leave your home and have to go to a clinic to see a doctor, when what you really need to do is rest, relax and just get well so you can get back to work,” she added.

M^me Reimer argued that doctor’s appointments, including evaluations that include writing a sick note, should be reserved for patients who “truly need medical attention.”

For example, she said, it might be a patient who has been sick for more than a few days, someone who might need lab work done, or someone who might need prescribing medication to help you recover.

“What we don’t want is a person who knows they have a health problem that will resolve itself, who knows they just have the flu, who knows they have usual migraine and it will get better,” she said.

In a new position paper, the CMA on Monday called for legislative changes in Canada to restrict the requirement for proof of illness and promote alternatives, such as self-certification and flexible leave policies.

The CMA says this measure aims to reduce the administrative burden on health care providers and improve patient access to care as well as the overall efficiency of the health system.

Several provinces have taken measures

Quebec adopted a law this fall which must limit the use of the services of a doctor to obtain a supporting document in the case of a short-term absence.

The law mainly aimed at reducing the administrative burden on doctors (bill 68) indicates that the limitation must apply for the first three absences of a period of three consecutive days or less in a year.

In May, the Ontario government also proposed legislation to prevent employers from requiring a medical certificate from a doctor for the three days of sick leave workers are entitled to in the province.

Nova Scotia has also acted on the issue, implementing a change in July 2023 that prohibits employers from requesting a medical certificate unless an employee has been absent for more than five working days or has already had two absences of five working days or less during the previous 12 months.

M^me Reimer said these changes are in the right direction, but should come with fewer reservations.

“We would like to see this go further and just say, ‘Let’s not let doctors be part of the human resources process in the first place,’” she argued.