As efforts to enhance Canadians’ access to primary healthcare intensify, a recent report highlights significant disparities in availability based on geographical location. The findings, derived from the Canadian Medical Association’s Our Care survey, reveal that approximately 5.8 million adults lack access to a family doctor. The statistics indicate that residents of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and two territories face particularly challenging circumstances compared to their counterparts in provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba.
A Fragmented Healthcare Landscape
Dr. Tara Kiran, who collaborated with the CMA on this survey, emphasised that these findings underscore the absence of a cohesive national healthcare system. Instead, Canada is characterised by multiple, fragmented primary care systems. The survey collected responses from 16,876 adults nationwide, inquiring whether they had a regular family doctor, nurse practitioner, or access to a primary care setting.
New Brunswick emerged as one of the provinces with the lowest access rates, with only 65.9% of respondents reporting they had a primary care clinician. If applied to the province’s entire population, this suggests that around 240,000 residents lack a family doctor. Dr. Lise Babin, a family physician in New Brunswick, remarked on the ongoing struggle for adequate access, noting that insufficient investment in primary care has contributed to the province’s lagging status.
Comparing Access Across Provinces
In stark contrast, provinces like Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba reported significantly higher access rates, with 87.4%, 88.5%, and 88.8% of respondents, respectively, indicating they have a clinician. Factors such as investment in team-based care and competitive compensation for healthcare professionals likely contribute to these higher figures.
Dr. Babin pointed out the potential consequences of lacking a family doctor, particularly for Canadians managing chronic health conditions. A recent Ontario study corroborated her concerns, revealing that individuals with multiple chronic conditions who went without a family physician for two years or more faced a twelvefold increase in the risk of death and a nearly sixteenfold increase in the likelihood of premature death.
Urgent Care Access: A National Concern
The CMA report also investigated the ability of those with a clinician to receive care for urgent health issues within the same or following day. Nationally, only 37% of respondents reported they could access timely care. Ontario performed slightly better than average, with 44.6% reporting such access, while Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the Northwest Territories lagged behind.
Dr. Kiran pointed out that the issue is not one of individual doctors’ willingness to help but rather a systemic failure to facilitate timely access to care. She advocates for increased investment in inter-professional teams to enhance the capacity of family doctors and nurse practitioners, allowing them to provide better support to patients.
After-hours care was another area of concern, with only 31% of Canadians stating that someone from their primary care clinic could assist them with urgent issues outside of standard weekday hours. Provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta, and those in Atlantic Canada reported significantly lower figures.
A Call for Systemic Change
Despite these challenges, the survey found that among those with access to primary care, approximately 67% felt their clinician supported their overall well-being. However, overall satisfaction with the healthcare system remains disappointingly low, with only 27.8% of Canadians expressing contentment with the current state of primary care.
Dr. Babin conveyed a sense of cautious optimism, recognising that while Canada has struggled for years with primary care access, there is potential for improvement through targeted investments. Dr. Kiran echoed this sentiment, stating that satisfaction rates highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to healthcare that extends beyond merely having a family doctor. Canadians seek timely access, the ability to manage their health records, respectful treatment, and the empowerment to take charge of their health.
Why it Matters
The current disparities in access to primary care across Canada are not just statistics; they represent real challenges faced by millions of Canadians. As provinces grapple with varying levels of healthcare delivery, the urgent need for a united, strategic approach becomes evident. By investing in comprehensive primary care systems and fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals, Canada can work toward a future where every citizen has the support and care they deserve, ultimately enhancing the nation’s health outcomes and reducing preventable mortality rates.
