Shocking new numbers are painting a sad snapshot of just how many Canadians still don’t have access to a primary care provider.
A report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) finds that 5.4 million people, or 17 per cent of adults, don’t have a family doctor.
These most recent numbers looked at access in 2023.
“In Canada, adults aged 18 to 34 were the least likely to report that they had access to a regular health care provider (74 per cent). Older adults age 65+ were the most likely to report access (92 per cent),” the report explained.
The CIHI finds 87 per cent of women reported having a family physician, compared to 79 per cent of men.
It also details the difference between household income levels and having a doctor.
“The most affluent 20 per cent of Canadians were slightly more likely to have a regular health care provider (84 per cent) compared with the 20 per cent with the lowest incomes (80 per cent).”
One concern is the potential of chronic illnesses not being addressed, which could lead to increased hospitalizations, the report states.
“When regular care isn’t available, a patient may miss out on medications or treatments that could help control their symptoms and potentially slow the progression of their condition,” it said.
“Chronic diseases — including angina, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), epilepsy and high blood pressure — are known as ambulatory care sensitive conditions, because if they are managed well through primary care, patients are less likely to need hospital care.”
Last month, the BC College of Family Physicians and BC Family Doctors said there were more than 700,000 British Columbians without access to a family doctor and nearly 40 per cent of family doctors currently operating in the province were set to retire or scale back their hours over the next five years.
Over the past year, the provincial government has been pressed to address health care woes in B.C. On the campaign trail in the lead-up to the election, NDP Leader David Eby referred to it as “stubborn,” while promising to improve the system without offering a firm timeline.
–With files from The Canadian Press.