As efforts continue to enhance Canadians’ access to family doctors, a recent report highlights significant disparities in primary healthcare availability across provinces and territories. The Our Care survey, led by Toronto-based family physician Dr. Tara Kiran in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association, reveals that approximately 5.8 million adults lack access to a primary care provider. The findings indicate that residents in regions such as New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and two territories face greater difficulties in securing healthcare compared to those in provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba.
A Closer Look at the Survey Findings
The Our Care survey gathered data from 16,876 adults nationwide, inquiring whether they had a regular family doctor, nurse practitioner, or a primary care facility for their healthcare needs. New Brunswick emerged as one of the provinces with the lowest access rates, with only 65.9 per cent of respondents reporting a relationship with a primary care clinician. If this statistic reflects the entire population, it suggests that around 240,000 individuals in New Brunswick may be without adequate primary care support.
Dr. Lise Babin, a family physician in New Brunswick, expressed that the province’s lag in access to family physicians is not surprising. She attributes this ongoing issue to insufficient investment in primary care resources, noting that the lack of funding over recent years has hindered the province’s ability to improve healthcare access.
Conversely, provinces like Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba reported significantly higher access rates, with 87.4 per cent, 88.5 per cent, and 88.8 per cent of respondents, respectively, indicating they had a clinician. Dr. Kiran suggested that investments in team-based care and competitive compensation for healthcare professionals in these regions could be contributing factors to their success.
Health Implications of Limited Access
The consequences of not having a family doctor can be dire, particularly for individuals with chronic health conditions. Research from Ontario substantiates Dr. Babin’s concerns, revealing that individuals with multiple chronic conditions who lacked a family doctor for two or more years faced a twelve-fold increase in mortality risk and a nearly sixteen-fold increase in the likelihood of premature death.
The survey also assessed the urgency of care, with only 37 per cent of Canadians with a primary care provider able to access care for urgent concerns on the same day or the following day. While Ontario’s rates were slightly above the national average at 44.6 per cent, regions such as Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the Northwest Territories reported lower access.
Dr. Kiran highlighted a systemic issue, stating that the desire to provide quality care exists among physicians, but the current healthcare framework does not facilitate easy access for patients. She advocated for further investments in inter-professional teams, which would enhance the capacity of family doctors and nurse practitioners to meet patient needs effectively.
After-Hours Care and Patient Satisfaction
The survey’s examination of after-hours care revealed that only 31 per cent of Canadians reported receiving help for urgent issues outside of regular weekday hours from their primary care clinics. Province-specific results showed that British Columbia, Alberta, and several Atlantic provinces significantly underperformed compared to national averages in this area.
Dr. Eddy Lang, an emergency room physician in Calgary, commented on the reliance on emergency departments when patients feel they have urgent health issues, stating that those who visit often do so out of genuine concern for their health.
Despite the challenges, the survey found that approximately 67 per cent of those with primary care access felt their healthcare provider supported their overall well-being. However, overall satisfaction with the primary care system remains low, with only 27.8 per cent of respondents expressing contentment with the current state of affairs.
Dr. Babin conveyed a cautious optimism, recognising that while the healthcare system has not performed well for many years, there is hope that increased investment may lead to meaningful change. Dr. Kiran echoed this sentiment, noting that satisfaction levels are not solely dependent on the number of patients with a family doctor but also on the quality and accessibility of care.
Why it Matters
The findings from the Our Care survey underscore a critical issue in Canada’s healthcare system: the stark inequalities in access to primary care based on geographic location. With millions of Canadians lacking adequate healthcare resources, this report calls for urgent action to address the disparities. Improving accessibility not only has immediate benefits for individual health outcomes but also strengthens the overall efficacy of the healthcare system. As policymakers consider reforms, the emphasis must be placed on equitable access, comprehensive support for healthcare professionals, and investments in robust healthcare infrastructure to ensure that all Canadians can receive the care they need, when they need it.
