Canadian Medical Association
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), with more than 70,000 members, is the largest association of doctors in Canada
and works to represent their interests nationally. It formed in 1867, three months after Confederation
. The CMA is a Canadian civilian organization with the Royal Patronage
of Queen Elizabeth II.
The CMA publishes the Canadian Medical Association Journal
(CMAJ) and through accreditation of educational programs works to ensure national standards in health care.
The CMA was also the driving force behind the creation of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan
in 1957. Today, its financial arm, MD Management, administers more than $
21 billion for CMA members and their families. It is the only professional association in the world to have enjoyed such success. The CMA also owns and operates a profit-making business called Practice Solutions, created in 2005 and claiming to offer end-to-end technology and practice management services to its members.
It claims to represent the interests of patients nationally and actively lobbies the Canadian government on public health
issues.
In the past, the CMA strongly supported the current single payer health care system
. But, this recently changed with the CMA's support of private health insurance, following the recent Supreme Court of Canada
ruling on Chaoulli and Quebec
.
on the federal political agenda. The campaign, which claimed that over 5 million Canadians had no access to a family doctor and that Canada needed 26,000 more physicians to meet the average in most other industrialized countries, was designed by Ottawa
creative agency McMillan integrated marketing
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and works to represent their interests nationally. It formed in 1867, three months after Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. The CMA is a Canadian civilian organization with the Royal Patronage
Royal patronage
Royal patronage may refer to*Royal patronage in arts, commerce, etc.*Patronato real*Padroado...
of Queen Elizabeth II.
The CMA publishes the Canadian Medical Association Journal
Canadian Medical Association Journal
The Canadian Medical Association Journal is a general medical journal that is published biweekly by the Canadian Medical Association . It covers research and ideas aimed at improving health for people in Canada and globally. CMAJ publishes original clinical research, analyses and reviews, news,...
(CMAJ) and through accreditation of educational programs works to ensure national standards in health care.
The CMA was also the driving force behind the creation of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan
Registered Retirement Savings Plan
A Registered Retirement Savings Plan or RRSP is a type of Canadian account for holding savings and investment assets. Introduced in 1957, the RRSP's purpose is to promote savings for retirement by employees. It must comply with a variety of restrictions stipulated in the Canadian Income Tax Act...
in 1957. Today, its financial arm, MD Management, administers more than $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
21 billion for CMA members and their families. It is the only professional association in the world to have enjoyed such success. The CMA also owns and operates a profit-making business called Practice Solutions, created in 2005 and claiming to offer end-to-end technology and practice management services to its members.
It claims to represent the interests of patients nationally and actively lobbies the Canadian government on public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
issues.
In the past, the CMA strongly supported the current single payer health care system
Medicare (Canada)
Medicare is the unofficial name for Canada's publicly funded universal health insurance system. The formal terminology for the insurance system is provided by the Canada Health Act and the health insurance legislation of the individual provinces and territories.Under the terms of the Canada Health...
. But, this recently changed with the CMA's support of private health insurance, following the recent Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
ruling on Chaoulli and Quebec
Chaoulli v. Quebec (Attorney General)
Chaoulli v. Quebec [2005] 1 S.C.R. 791, was a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada where the Court ruled that the Quebec Health Insurance Act and the Hospital Insurance Act prohibiting private medical insurance in the face of long wait times violated the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and...
.
Awareness campaigns
In 2008, CMA launched an advocacy campaign to put Canada's doctor shortageDoctor shortage
Physician supply refers to the number of trained physicians working in a health care system or active in the labour market. The supply depends primarily on the number of graduates of medical schools in a country or jurisdiction, but also on the number who continue to practice medicine as a career...
on the federal political agenda. The campaign, which claimed that over 5 million Canadians had no access to a family doctor and that Canada needed 26,000 more physicians to meet the average in most other industrialized countries, was designed by Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
creative agency McMillan integrated marketing
McMillan integrated marketing
McMillan is a full-service marketing agency headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with a client service center in San Francisco. McMillan specializes in planning and executing integrated product and service branding campaigns across a variety of media, including online, broadcast, and print.-Company...
.
See also
- Canadian Medical Protective AssociationCanadian Medical Protective AssociationThe Canadian Medical Protective Association , is an organization headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that provides legal defence and liability protection to physicians across Canada, and provides compensation to patients and their families proven to have been harmed by negligent clinical care...
- James ThorburnJames Thorburn (Canadian physician)Dr. James Thorburn, was a Canadian physician, medical researcher, military surgeon, university professor and an executive member of several medical organizations.- Biography :...
: President, CMA, 1895 - List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
Provincial/Territorial Medical Associations
- Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA)Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA)The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association is the voice of organized medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Association represents the views of the physicians of the province with governments, the media and the general public...
- Ontario Medical AssociationOntario Medical AssociationThe Ontario Medical Association is a professional organization for physicians in Ontario, Canada founded in 1880. It represents and, to a certain degree, governs approximately 24,000 physicians in Ontario. The association's main office is located at 150 Bloor St. West in Toronto. The current...
- British Columbia Medical AssociationBritish Columbia Medical AssociationThe British Columbia Medical Association is a professional body of doctors in the Canadian province of British Columbia.It is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia....
- Alberta Medical AssociationAlberta Medical AssociationThe Alberta Medical Association is an organization of physicians in the Canadian province of Alberta. It describes itself as an "advocate for its physician members, providing leadership and support for their role in the provision of quality health care"...
- Saskatchewan Medical Association
- Manitoba Medical Association
- New Brunswick Medical Association