Primary Care
Primary care is the cornerstone of Canada’s healthcare system, yet 1 in 5 people in Canada (6.5 million people) do not have access a family physician or nurse practitioner. Significant gaps in access to primary care persist, particularly for vulnerable populations including those in rural and remote communities, Indigenous populations, low-income individuals, newcomers, and racialized populations. Without adequate and timely access to primary care, health outcomes worsen, increase the strain on the healthcare system.
Gaps in Primary Care Access: Many communities continue to face barriers in accessing primary healthcare, despite Canada’s universal healthcare system. Research shows that 17% of adults in Canada do not have a regular healthcare provider. Over one quarter of Indigenous people wait at least 2 weeks or more for an appointment with a primary healthcare provider. People living in rural communities’ travel over 35km to see their primary care providers, more than double that of people living in urban areas. Nearly 45% of Canadians searching for a primary care provider report spending 1 to 5 years in their search. Over the last decade, the growth rate of family physicians has sharply slowed, from 2.7% between 2015 and 2017 to just 1% between 2021 and 2023—a decline of nearly 63%.
The Role of Community Health Centres (CHCs) in Primary Care: CHC play a critical role in addressing gaps in primary care access, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations. CHCs provide comprehensive, wraparound, and community-based care. They are uniquely positioned to serve populations that face systemic barriers to accessing traditional healthcare, such as people living on low-income, Indigenous and rural communities, newcomers, and people who are homeless. On average, a Canadian CHC provides primary care to over 5000 individuals. By providing timely, equitable healthcare, CHCs represent an efficient and economic model for health care delivery. However, over 70% of Canadian CHCs report critical funding gaps, limiting their ability to deliver essential primary care services.
Primary care services across Canada are facing significant funding shortfalls and operational challenges, leading to workforce shortages and overburdened healthcare systems. At CHCs, the patient-to-provider ratio is higher, with a ratio of at least 500 people per health care provider, compared to the national average of approximately 479 patients per family physician. This gap highlights the urgent need for improved access to primary healthcare and greater support for healthcare providers across the system.
A Commitment to Primary Health Equity: Access to primary care is a fundamental right, yet too many Canadians, particularly those in rural, remote, and vulnerable communities continue to face barriers to care. CHC are a vital part of the solution, offering accessible, comprehensive, and culturally relevant services to those who need it most. By investing in primary care providers, expanding infrastructure, and supporting CHCs, we can bridge the gaps in primary care access and improve health outcomes for all people in Canada.
