27th October 2004
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is the voice of the medical profession in Ontario, championing the interests of more than 24,000 member physicians, residents and medical students, and their patients. For more than a century, the OMA has played a vital role in the development, promotion, and management of health-care services in Ontario.The OMA's latest position paper,"Improving Our Health: Why is Canada lagging behind in establishing needle exchange programs in prisons?" reveals that intravenous drug use in prisons is contributing to the transmission of these diseases in Ontario's communities. The OMA is recommending that all federal prisons and prisons in Ontario implement a needle exchange program (NEP) to help prevent the spread of these diseases.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.