Ontario Takes a Bold Step to Address Primary Care Gaps

Today, Minister of Health Sylvia Jones announced a $1.8 billion investment in primary care improvements. This funding provides a critical step toward addressing the healthcare needs of Ontarians and expanding access to family physicians.

“We are excited about the energy behind this initiative,” said Jill Croteau, Chair of the Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (OPRA). “The commitment to improving primary care attachment and enhancing Health Care Connect’s reach and functionality is a promising development.”

Ontario’s Primary Care Challenges

Ontario’s population, estimated at 15.6 million in 2023, is projected to grow to 21.7 million by 2046. As of August 2024, 11.4 million residents are rostered in a Ministry Patient Enrollment Model (PEM), leaving 4.2 million—27% of the population–not rostered to a family physician.

The primary care system faces significant challenges, including fewer medical students choosing family medicine, administrative burdens, and an aging physician workforce. Many physicians are shifting their scope of practice or retiring, further exacerbating the need for replacements. Addressing these challenges requires both forward-looking planning and immediate support for the current workforce to ensure retention and engagement.

Collaborative Opportunities for Physician Recruitment

OPRA is committed to contributing to health human resource planning and increasing the supply of family physicians across Ontario.

We commend the Ontario Government for its significant investment in primary care. This funding is critical to ensuring timely and consistent access to healthcare for all Ontarians.

We trust the government will carefully consider the key challenges within the current healthcare system as they work to build a resilient, accessible, and equitable system for all Ontarians. OPRA looks forward to more details on how these investments will support recruitment, retention, and patient attachment initiatives across Ontario.

About OPRA: The Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (OPRA) is dedicated to improving physician recruitment and retention across Ontario through innovative partnerships and strategic planning. For more information, visit opra.ca.

Media Contact: Jill Croteau, OPRA Chair, recruiters@opra.ca