CMA demands businesses do away with the need for illness notes
CMA President Dr. Joss Reimer emphasized that sick notes are a human resources issue, not a health systems one.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is advocating for the removal of sick note requirements for employees with short-term, minor illnesses.
According to the CMA, eliminating this requirement could reduce up to 12.5 million unnecessary health-care visits annually.
CMA President Dr. Joss Reimer emphasized that sick notes are a human resources issue, not a health systems one.
The association argues that requiring sick notes adds unnecessary administrative tasks for physicians, which detracts from their ability to provide patient care.
In a recent position paper, the CMA urges legislative changes to limit sick note requirements and suggests alternatives like self-certification and flexible leave policies.
This change, the CMA says, would reduce administrative burdens for health-care providers, enhance patient access to care, and improve the efficiency of the health-care system overall.
