The CMA sparks action on issues that matter to the medical profession and Canadians. We unite physicians and physicians-in-training from across the country to amplify their perspective. We work with members and partners to build policies and programs to improve Canadians’ health, and we promote these policies directly to governments.
Our goal is to bring about positive change in Canadian health care with the interests of doctors and their patients front and centre.
Priority issues
As the collective voice of physicians in Canada, the CMA has a unique perspective on Canada’s health care landscape. This gives us a clear view of which issues demand the most urgent attention, whether they are long-standing or emerging. Today, our advocacy priorities include:
Cannabis
With cannabis use now legal in Canada, we continue to advocate for a science-based, public health approach to the substance — and actively support physicians with information and resources about cannabis use for medical purposes.
Medical Assistance in Dying
From a position of neutrality — supporting members who provide services for medically assisted dying and those who choose not to — the CMA is driving dialogue about this complex end-of-life intervention.
Medicine and Technology
The CMA is leading the conversation about technology’s potential to transform Canadian health care — and the questions it raises about privacy and the future of the profession.
Opioids
The opioid crisis has claimed thousands of lives. We’re helping physicians get the information they need for appropriate prescribing and treating of opioid addiction.
Palliative Care
High-quality palliative care remains unavailable or inaccessible to many Canadians. The CMA is a longtime advocate for better access to end-of-life care.
Seniors Care
As Canada’s population ages, wait times and health care costs will continue to climb. We want a national seniors strategy, and investments into more effective and accessible seniors care.
Ongoing health issues
The CMA’s history of health advocacy spans decades. We continue to monitor many ongoing issues, bringing the physician voice to the conversation and providing doctors with resources and information to support their practice.