Ontario on track with primary care strategy

The provincial government is touting the early success of its Primary Care Action Plan.

It says more than 275,000 now have access to a family physician or nurse practitioner within the first year of the plan.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones says that puts the province on track to meet or exceed its target of connecting 300,000 people to care this year, and every Ontarian to a primary care provider by 2029.

“Our government is protecting Ontario’s healthcare system and leading the country with investments that give Ontarians the highest rate of access to a regular healthcare provider in Canada,” says Jones.

“I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made in the first year of our plan as we continue to take bold action to connect every Ontarian to care and help more people live fuller, more active lives.”

The plan, rolled out last year, earmarks $2.1 billion to meet its goal.

The province is providing $235 million this year to fund more than 130 new or expanded primary care teams and another $250 on 75 others next year.

Dr. Jane Philpott, the former federal Health Minister who was enlisted by the province to help with the plan, says the creation of primary care teams is delivering results.

“These teams are already making a difference. They are attaching tens of thousands of patients in the areas of highest need across the province,” says Philpott.

Jones says the government has also taken steps to address the staffing needs of the teams.

This has included expanding the scopes of practice for regulated health professionals and making it easier for those from other areas to work in the province.

“Accelerating licensures for qualified out-of-province and US-licensed health professionals has already attracted over 1,700 new nurses and over 450 doctors to Ontario this year alone,” says Jones

Jones also points to the expansion of medical schools and the creation of new ones to bring more physicians into the system.

The Health Minister says Ontario leads the country when it comes to care, but there is more that can be done.

“Beginning with clearing the Healthcare Connect wait list. As of this week, that wait list has been reduced by more than 75%,” says Jones.

Healthcare Connect was established to help residents connect with a doctor or nurse practitioner.