Ontario to expand 78 primary care teams in bid to attach 600,000 people by 2029

Toronto — Ontario is moving to add or expand 78 primary care teams as part of a provincial push to ensure every resident has access to a regular primary care provider by 2029.

Targeting 600,000 more patients

Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced the government will soon issue a call for proposals to create or enlarge teams that combine family doctors with other health professionals. The next round of expansion aims to attach roughly 600,000 more people to primary care, on top of the 437,000 who have been connected since the program began early last year.

The province’s broader goal is to attach two million people through this multi-year strategy. That target, however, sits alongside a contrasting figure cited by the Ontario Medical Association, which says about 2.5 million people currently lack a family physician.

"The government is on track to reach its target," Jones said in making the announcement.

What the teams look like

Ontario’s approach centres on interdisciplinary primary care teams. These can include physicians, nurses and other allied health professionals who work together to deliver comprehensive, coordinated services. The province has emphasised the role of allied providers such as physiotherapists and social workers within these teams.

• Number of teams to be created or expanded: 78
• People attached so far: 437,000
• Additional people the next round aims to attach: 600,000
• Provincial goal by 2029: 2 million
• Ontario Medical Association estimate of unattached patients: 2.5 million

Practical implications for patients and communities

For many Ontarians the presence of a primary care team means faster access to routine care, improved chronic disease management and better links to community services. Expanding teams in both urban centres and rural communities can reduce pressure on emergency departments and improve continuity of care, especially for patients with complex needs.

However, questions remain about how quickly new teams can be stood up and where they will be located. The province’s call for proposals will determine which regions and organizations receive funding and support to hire staff, lease or renovate clinic space and integrate allied health practitioners into team-based models.

Capacity and workforce considerations

The success of the expansion depends on workforce availability. Scaling up interdisciplinary care requires recruiting family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and other practitioners. Jurisdictions across Ontario have experienced variable workforce pressures, with rural and remote communities frequently facing greater shortages.

Building teams also requires administrative capacity to manage referrals, patient rostering and information-sharing among providers. The practical challenges of recruitment, retention and clinic operations will shape which proposals succeed and how quickly attached patients begin receiving care.

What to expect next

The provincial government will publish the call for proposals in the coming weeks. Health-care organizations, community health centres, hospitals and physician groups will be eligible to apply to create or expand primary care teams. The selection process will determine the geographic distribution of new teams and the pace at which the 600,000-person attachment goal can be met.

For patients seeking a family doctor or team-based care, local public health units and provincial online resources provide information on how to register for wait-lists and attachments. The province’s announcement signals continued investment in primary care as a lever to improve access and relieve strain on emergency services.

The announcement underscores a provincial emphasis on team-based care as the cornerstone of improving access. How effectively those teams are distributed and staffed will determine whether the province can close the gap between the number of people saying they lack a family doctor and the government’s stated attachment target.