Affected doctors include those paid by fee for service, a set amount for each procedure or consultation. They include family doctors, surgeons, internal medicine specialists, rheumatologist and physicians who operate diagnostic testing clinics.

A government source said affected doctors could apply for financial assistance under the federal government’s emergency wage subsidy program. The program provides a 75-per-cent wage subsidy, up to a maximum of $847 per employer per week for the period of March 15 to June 6. To be eligible, employers must have experienced a drop in revenue of 30 per cent for the months of April and May, and 15 per cent for the month of March.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to give an interview on the issue, said that most physicians are incorporated, and, as proprietors of small businesses, they would be eligible to seek assistance under the program.

The government has also put in place new measures during the pandemic to pay physicians working in intensive care by salary, rather than by fee-for-service, the source noted.

Gandhi said the OMA wants to negotiate a deal with government that would give doctors affected by the pay slump a percentage of their average monthly billings. Other provinces have made such arrangements, he noted, adding that Ontario did something similar during the SARS pandemic.

Theresa Boyle is a Toronto-based reporter covering health. Follow her on Twitter: @theresaboyle