The Ontario government says it is taking another step toward making sure everyone in the province has access to a family doctor or primary care provider by 2029.
As part of the plan, the province has put a new agreement in place with doctors that will run from 2024 to 2028. The agreement includes better pay, new incentives for doctors to take on more patients, expanded evening and weekend care, and efforts to recruit and keep more doctors across Ontario.
With the changes now in effect, patients can expect more appointment options, including evenings and weekends. Doctors will also receive support to take on patients with more complex health needs, helping ensure those who need care the most are not left behind.
The plan also aims to reduce pressure on emergency rooms by allowing more minor procedures to be done in doctors’ offices. At the same time, new programs are being introduced to attract more doctors to rural and northern communities.
The province says these efforts build on earlier investments that have already added thousands of nurses and doctors to the health-care system. So far, more than 330,000 people have been connected to a regular health-care provider through the province’s primary care plan.
