Physician Shortage and Access to Primary Care

The issue

Ontario faces a primary care access crisis. More than 2.3 million people in this province do not have a family doctor, and without sustained investment, that number will grow.

Family physicians are retiring faster than new physicians are entering practice. Those who remain are carrying unsustainable workloads, spending more time on administration than on patient care. This is not sustainable for physicians, and it is not safe for patients.

Why it matters

When patients cannot access a family doctor:

• Preventive care is delayed, and chronic conditions worsen
• Emergency departments shoulder care that should happen in the community
• Inequities deepen, particularly for rural, northern, Indigenous and newcomer populations
• System costs rise as downstream complications increase

What OCFP is recommending

OCFP has submitted a five-point action plan to the Ontario government calling for immediate investment in primary care capacity. The plan addresses both the immediate shortage and the long-term sustainability of family medicine in Ontario.

Recent actions

OCFP met with Ministry of Health officials in March 2026 to present our evidence and recommendations. We appeared before the Standing Committee on Health in June. We continue to engage the public and media to build the case for urgent action.