Connected Care, Stronger Communities:
Advancing Primary Care for a Healthier Ontario An outlook from the OCC Health Policy Council
Ontario is facing a primary care crisis. The number of Ontarians without a family doctor has risen from 1.8 million to 2.5 million since 2020i, giving the province the lowest registered nurse-to-population ratio in the countryii, alongside other pressures straining the system. The situation requires urgent, consistent, and strategic action. A strong primary care system has been shown to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by up to 33 per cent in Ontario.iii Quebec’s experience further highlights its value, with a 36 per cent reduction in emergency visits for patients with a primary care provider.iv Through Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, supported by a landmark $2.1 billion investment, the Government of Ontario is taking significant steps to address these challenges, aiming to connect two million residents to primary care. The plan focuses on expanding access, improving coordination and convenience, and supporting healthcare providers to ensure everyone in the province has a family doctor or care team. Ontario is also expanding medical and nursing education by adding 160 new medical school seats and 295 residency positions, alongside opening new medical schools in Brampton and Vaughan. The government is investing more than $220 million in grants and accelerated programs to train and license more health professionals, particularly in underserved communities, while streamlining registration for nurses from other jurisdictions. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) believes that building on these efforts through collaborative solutions will strengthen Ontario’s health system and economy. The following recommendations from the OCC’s Health Policy Council focus on three imperatives: expanding the health workforce, shifting care into communities, and using data to drive efficiency.
INVESTING IN OUR WORKFORCE
The rising demand for care exceeds the available health workforce, creating pressure on the system. While the government’s plan is to connect every Ontarian to a primary care network, some aspects of the regulatory framework prevent domestic and international health professionals (e.g., physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, medical technologists, dental assistants) and primary care leaders (e.g., nurse practitioners, specialists) 1/4