CMA membership survey: opinions on issues facing the medical profession

A sample survey of Canadian Medical Association (CMA) members, conducted in early summer 1985 and designed to provide information to help guide the association's activities and policies, shows that most Canadian physicians support involvement in political activities both by CMA and by indivudual physicians. A majority wishes to maintain the concept of extra/balance billing, to pursue the position that the health care system is underfunded and favours medicare premiums and hospital user fees as the preferred methods for increasing revenue.

Most respondents believe that the number of doctors in Canada is about right but would prefer any reduction to be achieved by cutting medical school admissions or reducing postgraduate training positions open to graduates of foreign medical schools.

Most of those members who know of CMA policies on a number of health care issues agree with them and also find them useful, but a significant proportion are not aware of their content.

There is support for compulsory payment of dues by all licensed physicians to both their provincial medical association and CMA. A majority would like more information on pharmaceutical products and additional membership surveys.