Canada's Ontario Government is investing approximately C$6.4m ($4.6m) to enhance access to primary care services for more than 23,000 individuals across different areas. 

The government said that nearly 90% of the people in Ontario are connected to regular healthcare in the province.  

With the latest initiative, the government aims to assist people without a regular health care provider, particularly in the Lambton, Chatham-Kent, and London area, by supporting seven new and expanded interprofessional primary care initiatives. 

The new initiatives will offer a range of services, including the launch of new mobile services for an indigenous primary health care organisation in Middlesex County, as well as a mobile bus to provide indigenous-led primary care in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. 

It further includes the introduction of an expanded Family Health Team in Elgin County that will collaborate with another Community Health Centre and Family Health Team to increase access to team-based primary care services. 

In addition, a new Family Health Team will be established for London and the surrounding area, with services extended through additional Community Hub locations.  

This approach aims to bring healthcare to people where they are, particularly those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, by connecting them with trauma and violence-informed primary care providers. 

In addition, in Lambton County, the government will introduce new rural site and increase capacity at an urban clinic, focusing on connecting socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, isolated seniors, newcomers, and refugees to primary care.  

Chatham-Kent will also benefit from new mobile primary care services, including clinics for respiratory and diabetes management, cancer screening, and traditional healers to provide culturally appropriate care.  

The initiative also includes the expansion of primary care services in Tillsonburg to aid vulnerable and medically complex community members. 

This latest investment forms part of Ontario’s broader C$110m commitment to connect up to 328,000 people to primary care teams, advancing the province's goal of ensuring that everyone in Ontario has access to primary care.  

Ontario Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said: “While there is more work to do, giving thousands of more Ontarians in the region the opportunity to connect to primary care brings us that much closer to this goal.”