Hundreds of individuals in search of a primary care physician stood in line for extended periods on a Saturday morning at a health facility in Ottawa’s western region. The Active Care clinic in Kanata made an appeal for new patients, offering registration for 400 to 600 individuals, with many being assigned a physician assistant (PA), as confirmed by a clinic medical secretary.
Alison Boughey, who queued for nearly four hours, expressed the significance of obtaining a family doctor after being without one for five years following her doctor’s relocation to Trenton, Ontario. This scenario resonated with others in line who also faced challenges finding a family physician in the city.
Ontario has been grappling with a shortage of doctors since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) highlighted to CBC via email that over 2.5 million Ontarians currently lack access to a family physician. Recent investments in primary care were acknowledged as a positive step, but the healthcare needs of the population continue to surpass available resources.
According to information from an OMA factsheet, Ontario has an estimated 2.8 physicians per 1,000 people, with 40 percent of them contemplating retirement. Rijwal Chirammal shared his predicament of having his family doctor closing the practice, leading him to seek a replacement amidst the doctor shortage.
Boughey estimated approximately 250 individuals were ahead of her upon her arrival at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The clinic’s voicemail mentioned acceptance of new patients between 8 a.m. and noon, though some individuals had already started waiting as early as 4:30 a.m.
Marlene Vieira, another individual in line, voiced her struggle to secure a spot on any waitlist since relocating to Ottawa from Haliburton Highlands. She expressed a desire for a doctor and emphasized the current reality of the situation.
At the Active Care clinic, there are currently eight physicians and three PAs. Physician assistants collaborate with doctors to enhance patient access to emergency care and reduce wait times. They are capable of performing physicals, making referrals, and prescribing certain medications, excluding narcotics, as clarified by clinic secretary Belinda Manuel.