Access to basic health care is a struggle for millions of people in Canada, with over 1 in 5 unable to find a family doctor.
The OurCare Survey, led by Dr. Tara Kiran and the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, aims to change that. The survey is being conducted in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association.
Dear AFHTO members and collaborators,
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.
After almost 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 $110 million investment in primary care, aiming to connect up to 328,000 individuals to healthcare teams.
There are 4 million caregivers across Ontario, providing an estimated 75% of the care to family members, partners, friends, or neighbours. Caregiver well-being has an impact on patient health outcomes – well-supported caregivers are more likely to provide better care. Primary care providers can play a key role in preventing burnout and enhancing caregiver well-being by initiating early interventions and connecting caregivers to support.
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.
Today, the Ontario government announced the launching of a suite of supports for Ukrainian families arriving under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel. The supports available include Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. Please find the News Release here and additional information on coming to Ontario from Ukraine here.