Unnecessary sick notes a burden on Manitoba, Canada health-care systems, docs say – Winnipeg [Video]

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) says you shouldn’t need to bring a sick note to work if you have a short-term illness.

A new Abacus data survey commissioned by the CMA says around one-third of Canadians were asked by employers to bring in a note to prove their illness at least once in the past year.

Association president Dr. Joss Reimer, formerly a Manitoba public health official, told 680 CJOB that eliminating the sick notes means millions of unnecessary health-care interactions could be prevented each year, freeing up medical resources.

“Maybe you have a migraine, maybe a cold or some GI (gastrointestinal) illness. The last thing you want to do is leave your house and go see the doctor. Really you just need to rest and get better and get back to work,” Reimer said.

“When six-and-a-half million Canadians don’t have access to a family doctor, anything that takes away that family doctor’s ability to take care …