Ontario health team connects 15,000 Torontonians with primary care in two new programs

The Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team has launched two new programs designed to expand access to primary care and address equity gaps across the city, connecting 15,000 Torontonians with doctors.

The initiative comes as millions of Canadians struggle to find family physicians. Statistics Canada data shows a growing shortage of primary-care providers, leaving residents without regular access to a doctor. The new programs aim to close that gap for residents in the Mid-West Toronto region by matching people with available physicians and streamlining the connection process.

The Ontario Health Team model groups hospitals, clinics, mental health services, and community providers to coordinate care in specific geographic regions. By pooling resources and coordinating referrals, these teams can reach people who might otherwise fall through the cracks — particularly in underserved neighbourhoods where doctor shortages are most acute.

The two new programs focus on removing barriers to care: reducing wait times for appointments and matching patients with physicians who have capacity in their practices. Both programs prioritize residents in lower-income areas and racialized communities, where access to primary care has historically lagged.