Hundreds of individuals in search of a family doctor endured lengthy waits on Saturday morning at a health facility in the west end of Ottawa. The Active Care clinic in Kanata appealed for new patients, aiming to enroll 400 to 600 individuals, with many being paired with a physician assistant (PA), as shared by a clinic medical secretary.
Alison Boughey, who queued for almost four hours, highlighted the significance of securing a family doctor after being without one for five years due to her previous doctor relocating to Trenton, Ontario. Similar stories emerged from others in line who had faced challenges finding a family physician in the city.
The doctor shortage in Ontario has persisted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 2.5 million Ontarians lacking access to a family physician, according to the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). While recent investments in primary care have been acknowledged as a step in the right direction, the OMA stated that healthcare demands outstrip available resources.
Statistics from an OMA factsheet indicate that Ontario has 2.8 physicians per 1,000 people, with 40% contemplating retirement. Amidst this backdrop, individuals like Rijwal Chirammal are seeking new doctors due to their current physicians closing their practices, prompting them to join the queue for potential healthcare providers.
Despite the challenges, individuals like Marlene Vieira, who relocated to Ottawa from a rural area, expressed frustration at the difficulty of securing a family doctor. The Active Care clinic, which currently employs eight physicians and three PAs, aims to enhance patient care by leveraging physician assistants to streamline services and improve emergency care access.
Overall, the demand for family physicians in Ontario remains high, underscoring the ongoing need to address healthcare resource gaps.
