Ontario launches first call for proposals to expand primary care access to 300,000 more residents

The Ontario government has issued its first call for proposals to create and expand up to 80 new and existing primary care teams, a move aimed at connecting 300,000 more residents with a family doctor or primary care provider by the end of the year.

“Through our government’s record investments in primary care, Ontario has achieved the highest rate of access to a regular health care provider in the country,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “To continue to build on this progress, we are taking the next step to connect 300,000 more people to primary care this year-bringing us one step closer to our goal.”

Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, said the effort is about building a care model that meets the needs of all Ontarians.

The province is allocating $213 million for this initial round of funding, part of a larger $1.8 billion investment over four years to create 305 new primary care teams and connect an estimated two million more Ontarians to publicly funded care.

The first wave of proposals will target communities with the highest number of residents without access to primary care, identified by postal code. On average, these areas have roughly 8,000 people unattached to a provider. The approach aims to connect everyone on the Health Care Connect waitlist as of January 1, 2025, to a primary care team within a year.

Applicants must outline how they will maximize patient attachment within their designated postal code areas. Successful proposals are expected to be announced in summer 2025, with a second call for proposals slated for September.

In addition, the province is investing $22 million to support existing primary care teams. The funding is part of a broader strategy to support workforce recruitment and retention across the system.

Ontario’s interprofessional primary care teams include family doctors or nurse practitioners working alongside nurses, physician assistants, social workers, dietitians and other professionals to provide holistic, accessible care.

The Primary Care Action Team will oversee implementation of the plan, drawing on best practices from across the province to close the remaining access gap for the 10 per cent of Ontarians still without a regular provider.