A recent survey has highlighted significant disparities in access to primary healthcare across Canada, revealing that approximately 5.8 million adults are still without a family doctor. Conducted by Dr. Tara Kiran, a family physician based in Toronto, in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association, the findings indicate that access to primary care is not uniform and varies widely by province or territory.
Discrepancies in Access Across Provinces
The Our Care survey, which gathered responses from 16,876 Canadians, illustrates a troubling picture of primary healthcare accessibility. While some provinces, such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba, report high levels of access—between 87.4% and 88.8% of adults have a designated clinician—others, particularly New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island, lag significantly behind. In New Brunswick, only 65.9% of respondents indicated they had a primary care provider, translating to an estimated 240,000 residents potentially without necessary medical support.
Dr. Lise Babin, a family physician in New Brunswick, expressed her concern over these findings, pointing out that the lack of investment in primary care infrastructure has contributed to the province’s poor performance in healthcare access. “It’s not surprising to see that we’re lagging behind other provinces with regards to access to family physicians,” she noted, underscoring the need for increased funding and resources in the region.
The Consequences of Lack of Care
The ramifications of not having a family doctor can be severe, particularly for individuals with chronic health conditions. Dr. Babin’s comments are supported by a separate study from Ontario, which found that residents with multiple chronic conditions who lacked a family doctor for two or more years faced a 12-fold increase in mortality risk and a nearly 16-fold rise in the likelihood of premature death.
The survey also assessed the ability of those with a clinician to receive urgent care within a reasonable timeframe. Nationally, only 37% of respondents reported that they could access care the same or following day. Ontario, with a higher-than-average rate of 44.6%, still leaves many without timely support, while provinces like Nova Scotia and Newfoundland reported even lower rates of accessibility.
Improving the System: Potential Solutions
Dr. Kiran highlighted that the challenges in accessing immediate care are often systemic rather than indicative of a lack of effort from healthcare professionals. “It’s not that the doctor doesn’t want to do a good job and see the patient; it’s just that we haven’t designed our systems to make that easy,” she stated.
One suggested approach to enhance accessibility is to invest in inter-professional teams, which would allow family doctors and nurse practitioners to extend their capacity to care for more patients effectively. The survey’s findings also explored after-hours care, revealing that only 31% of Canadians could receive assistance for urgent issues outside of regular hours, with Alberta, British Columbia, and various Atlantic provinces falling below the national average.
Patient Satisfaction: A Call for Improvement
Despite the challenges, the report found that among those who do have access to primary care, approximately 67% felt their clinician supported their overall well-being. However, satisfaction with the primary healthcare system remains dishearteningly low, with only 27.8% expressing contentment with its operations.
Dr. Babin remains hopeful, asserting that while the situation has not improved significantly over the years, recent discussions around investment in healthcare could lead to positive changes. “We just have to go with it and try to do as much as we can with the investments we have now,” she added.
Dr. Kiran echoed this sentiment, emphasising that access to a family doctor is only one aspect of a functioning healthcare system. “People are looking not just for a family doctor, but also for timely access, respectful treatment, and the empowerment to manage their own health,” she explained.
Why it Matters
The findings of the Our Care survey reveal a critical need for policy reform and investment in Canada’s healthcare system. The stark differences in access to primary care underscore the urgent need for governments to address these inequalities. A health system that fails to provide adequate support for its citizens not only jeopardises individual well-being but also places an unsustainable burden on emergency services and the broader healthcare infrastructure. Ensuring equitable access to primary care is not just a matter of health; it is a fundamental right that must be safeguarded for all Canadians.
