Ontario’s community health care associations responded to the 2024 Budget

March 27, 2024 


Urgent action is required by Ontario government to address worsening staffing crisis in Ontario’s community health sector


Associations representing over 200,000 workers in community health respond to 2024 Ontario Budget 
 

TORONTO, ON – Today, a coalition of Ontario’s community health care associations responded to Ontario’s 2024 Budget. 

Budget 2024: $546 million investment to expand and enhance access to team-based primary care

After a year of advocacy on funding to expand and enhance access to team-based primary care, AFHTO's advocacy efforts have proven successful as the Ontario government announces a $546 million investment in primary care, aiming to connect up to 600,000 individuals to primary care teams. This afternoon, Ontario’s Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy presented the budget which highlighted the government's commitment to new investments aimed at increasing access to team-based primary care. 

$3.1 billion agreement to improve health care in Ontario, with team-based primary care as a central focus

After months of advocacy with both the federal and provincial governments, AFHTO is pleased to let our members know of a new agreement that will see new investment of $3.1 billion into Ontario’s health care system. This investment includes significant funding to increase access to primary care through creating new primary care teams and boosting access to family doctors and nurse practitioners. Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford signed the deal that details how the province must spend $3.1 billion in federal funding earmarked for health care.

Primary Care Leaders Urge Canada's Premiers and Federal Government to Strike a Deal That Focuses on Expanding Team-Based Primary Care Including Access to a Primary Care Provider

TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2023 /CNW/ - The Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) is encouraging Premiers across the country, and the federal government, to strike a new Canada Health Transfer agreement that will focus on expanding team-based care and ensure that every Canadian has access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner within an interprofessional team.

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Strengthening mental healthcare delivery in primary care

The OMA and the Primary Care Collaborative have released a joint policy paper with recommendations to strengthen mental healthcare delivery in primary care.

The rate of new mental health and addiction diagnoses is increasing, exacerbated by the ongoing impacts of the pandemic. Approximately three-quarters of Canadians rely on their primary care provider to address their mental health needs, but there are longstanding system gaps that must be addressed to enhance the ability of primary care doctors to deliver mental health care.