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As Canadian authorities strive to enhance citizens’ access to family doctors, a recent report highlights significant disparities in primary care availability across the nation. According to the Canadian Medical Association’s Our Care survey, approximately 5.8 million adults are still without a primary care provider. The findings indicate that access is particularly limited in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and two territories, compared to provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba, where access rates are considerably higher.
Varied Access Across Canada
The report, which surveyed 16,876 adults nationwide, sought to determine whether participants had a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner. Alarmingly, New Brunswick ranked among the lowest, with only 65.9 per cent of respondents indicating they had a primary care clinician. This statistic suggests that roughly 240,000 residents may be left without access to essential health services.
Dr. Lise Babin, a family physician in New Brunswick, expressed concern over the province’s lagging performance in primary care access. “It’s not surprising to see that we’re behind other provinces regarding access to family physicians,” she stated. Babin noted that the lack of investment in primary care over recent years has contributed significantly to this issue.
Conversely, Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba reported much higher percentages of individuals with access to a clinician, at 87.4 per cent, 88.5 per cent, and 88.8 per cent respectively. Dr. Tara Kiran, who contributed to the CMA survey, pointed out that factors such as investments in team-based care models and competitive remuneration for healthcare professionals likely play a role in these disparities.
The Health Implications of Inaccessibility
The implications of lacking a family doctor can be dire, particularly for Canadians grappling with chronic health conditions. Research from Ontario supports this notion, revealing that individuals without a family doctor for two or more years had a twelvefold increase in the odds of death, and a nearly sixteenfold higher risk of premature death.
The survey also examined the ability of those with a clinician to receive urgent care. Nationally, only 37 per cent reported that they could access care for urgent concerns on the same or following day. Ontario fared slightly better, with 44.6 per cent, while provinces like Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the Northwest Territories fell below the national average.
Dr. Kiran highlighted systemic issues, noting that the problem is not a lack of desire among physicians to assist patients, but rather a failure in the organisation of healthcare systems. “We haven’t designed our systems to make access easy,” she remarked.
After-Hours Care and Overall Satisfaction
The survey further explored after-hours care, revealing that just 31 per cent of Canadians could receive assistance from their primary care clinic outside regular weekday hours. British Columbia, Alberta, and various Atlantic provinces ranked significantly lower than the national average in this regard.
Dr. Eddy Lang, an emergency room physician in Calgary, commented on the challenges faced by patients seeking urgent care, stating, “When patients come to see us, they genuinely feel they have an urgent problem that requires attention.”
Despite the obstacles, the report indicated that about 67 per cent of those with primary care access felt their clinician supported their overall well-being. However, overall satisfaction with the primary care system remained disappointingly low, with only 27.8 per cent of Canadians expressing contentment with the current state of affairs.
Dr. Babin reflected on this dissatisfaction, asserting that the healthcare system has not been meeting the needs of Canadians for many years. However, she remains hopeful that with increased investment, there will be improvements in care access and quality.
The Bigger Picture: Beyond Access to Clinicians
Dr. Kiran emphasised that satisfaction with primary care extends beyond merely having a clinician. Canadians desire timely access to care, the ability to manage their health records, and respectful treatment. “People want to feel empowered to take care of themselves with the information they need,” she articulated.
Why it Matters
The findings from the CMA’s report underscore a critical issue within Canada’s healthcare framework: access to primary care is not uniformly distributed. The stark differences between provinces reveal systemic inequalities that affect millions of Canadians. Addressing these disparities is vital not only for improving health outcomes but also for fostering a more equitable healthcare system. As policymakers consider reforms, it is essential to focus on comprehensive strategies that enhance access, invest in healthcare resources, and ultimately empower Canadians to take charge of their health.
