Ontario Invests $1.8 Billion to Ensure Universal Access to Family Doctors by 2029

Toronto, ON – The Ontario government has unveiled a transformative $1.8 billion investment aimed at connecting two million more residents to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team within the next four years. This initiative aligns with the government’s ambitious goal of ensuring every Ontarian who wants a primary care provider can access one by 2029.

Of the $1.8 billion, $1.4 billion represents new funding, while over $400 million comes from previously approved primary care investments. According to Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, this funding builds on Ontario’s standing as the leader in access to regular health care providers across Canada.

“Through our government’s record investments in primary care, we have been able to achieve the highest rate of access to regular health care providers in the country,” said Jones. “With this historic, transformative investment, we can now achieve our goal of connecting every person in the province who wants a primary care provider.”

Today, @SylviaJonesMPP and @janephilpott announced an historic investment that will connect two million more people across Ontario to a family doctor or primary care team within four years, so everyone in Ontario has access to primary care.https://t.co/A97j8MTqnL pic.twitter.com/dmoxDH3zz2

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) January 27, 2025

Strengthening Primary Care Across Ontario
The government’s Primary Care Action Team, led by Dr. Jane Philpott, will spearhead the implementation of a robust action plan that draws from best practices across the province. Central to this plan is the expansion of interprofessional primary care teams—groups comprising family doctors or nurse practitioners alongside other health care professionals, such as social workers and dieticians.

“Together we will build a primary care system that is comprehensive, convenient, and connected for every single person in Ontario,” Dr. Philpott emphasized.

Key initiatives include:

• Establishing and expanding 305 additional primary care teams by 2029, with 76 teams launching in 2025-26 to connect 300,000 people to care this year.
• Introducing new legislation to outline standards for accessing primary care, alongside public reporting on metrics such as appointment availability and online health record access.
• Modernizing Health Care Connect, with a goal to attach everyone currently on the waitlist to a primary care team by Spring 2026.
• Enhancing digital tools to streamline care navigation and reduce administrative burdens for providers.

Expanding the Health Care Workforce
Since 2018, Ontario has added over 15,000 physicians to its workforce, marking a 10% increase in family doctors. Recent investments in medical education include the opening of two new medical schools and the addition of 260 undergraduate medical seats and 449 postgraduate positions, including new opportunities at York University.

The government’s targeted recruitment and retention strategies will address shortages in northern and rural communities while ensuring health care professionals can work to their full scope of practice. New teaching clinics will also be established to attract primary care learners to underserved areas.

A Vision for 2029
The action plan is projected to close the gap for the 10% of Ontarians still without primary care by 2029. Performance indicators, including the number of patients attached to primary care teams and appointment wait times, will be monitored to ensure the initiative’s success.

Through “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care,” the government continues to prioritize high-quality, accessible health care for families across the province.

SOURCE Province of Ontario