$1.8B investment to connect millions more to primary care
The Ontario government has announced a $1.8 billion investment to connect two million more residents to publicly funded family doctors or primary care teams within the next four years, aiming to provide every Ontarian access to primary care. This includes $1.4 billion in new funding and over $400 million in previously approved funds.
Led by Dr. Jane Philpott, Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team will use the government’s historic investment to implement its action plan to build a primary care system that draws on best-in-class models from across the province and connects everyone to a family doctor or primary care team. Interprofessional primary care teams are made up of a family physician or nurse practitioner and other health care professionals such as nurses, physician assistants, social workers, dieticians and more.
“Together, we will build a primary care system that is comprehensive, convenient, and connected for every single person in Ontario,” said Philpott.
Key initiatives include:
- Introduce targeted strategies to recruit and retain the workforce needed to support primary care providers and teams
- Expanding teaching clinics to train healthcare professionals, prioritizing underserved areas.
- Creating and expanding 305 primary care teams by 2029 to connect two million people.
- Setting best-in-class standards for primary care access and providing regular progress updates.
- Modernizing digital tools for improved patient navigation and access to health records.
“Nurse practitioners are well-positioned to play a key role in addressing gaps in primary care,” said Michelle Acorn, CEO of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario. Similarly, Dr. Jobin Varughese, President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians, praised the focus on integrated team-based care and new technology.
With this investment, Ontario aims to close the gap for the remaining 10 per cent of residents lacking primary care by 2029.