Ontario is set to invite proposals for the establishment or enlargement of 78 primary care teams in line with its objective of connecting all Ontarians to primary care by 2029. Health Minister Sylvia Jones revealed today that approximately 437,000 individuals have been linked to primary care services since the initiation of the government’s strategy last year. The upcoming phase aims to attach an additional 600,000 residents to primary care.
Jones is committed to ensuring universal access to primary care in Ontario by connecting a total of two million people; however, the Ontario Medical Association reports that 2.5 million individuals in the province do not have a family physician. Despite this, Jones remains confident that the government is making progress towards achieving its target.
The minister’s emphasis has been on broadening interdisciplinary care through teams comprising various healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and others.