The Ontario government says it is taking the next step in its Primary Care Action Plan with the creation of a provincewide digital medical record system and increased funding aimed at improving access to care.
The province announced it will invest a total of $3.4 billion through 2029 to expand primary care services, including new and enhanced care teams across Ontario.
Officials say the new medical record system will allow clinicians to securely access patient information across different providers, reducing paperwork and improving coordination. Currently, while most physicians use electronic records, systems are often not connected, meaning patients can be required to repeat medical histories or pay to transfer files.
The government also says it has already exceeded its 2025 to 2026 target of connecting 300,000 people to a primary care provider, with more than 330,000 patients attached as of early January.
An additional 124 primary care teams are expected to be launched or expanded, with the goal of connecting another 500,000 people to care.
Healthcare providers are offering cautious optimism. Several organizations, including physician, nursing and primary care groups, say integrated records and expanded team based care could reduce administrative burden and allow clinicians to focus more on patients.
They also note improved coordination could lead to better outcomes and more efficient use of resources across the system.
The province says the changes are part of a broader effort to ensure all Ontarians are connected to primary care by 2029, while modernizing how care is delivered in communities across the province.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)