Recent data from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (2010) shows that only 17.5% of family practices are open to new patients. Given the acknowledged shortage of family physicians in all jurisdictions, the CDPA’s third accessibility initiative was a study that investigated whether patients with disabilities had greater difficulties finding a family physician in Ontario.
Primary care is especially important for disabled Canadians as they have thinner margins of health, fewer opportunities for health maintenance and prevention, earlier onset of chronic conditions, and longer, more complex treatment for common health problems. This report reviews the barriers that disabled Canadians face and investigates whether programs like the Ontario Government’s Health Care Connect were working to ensure people with disabilities equitable access to the health care system. To obtain a copy of the CDPA’s report on this subject please click on the link below.
Do people with disabilities have difficulty finding a family physician in Ontario?