On June 23, the Ontario government announced a major step to improve access to primary care, with a plan to connect 300,000 more people to a family doctor or primary care team.  

As part of its $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan, the province is investing $235 million to support over 130 new and expanded primary care teams, focused on underserved communities. These teams have been selected to help people without a family doctor, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist. Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, emphasized the province’s commitment to building a more accessible, team-based system led by family doctors and nurse practitioners. To support this, Ontario is also providing $142 million over three years to recruit and retain health professionals like nurse practitioners and pharmacists and investing $300 million to develop up to 17 new or expanded teaching clinics in underserved areas. 

SAC will continue to monitor developments and connect with decision makers to advocate for the integration of S-LPs and audiologists within Ontario’s evolving primary care landscape. 

Read the official news release here.