April 11, 2025
The Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) congratulates the Ministry of Health on yesterday’s important step toward achieving team-based primary care for everyone in the province.
The Government of Ontario’s newly announced call for proposals for Interprofessional Primary Care Teams will help connect 300,000 more people to family doctors and primary care providers this year - a vital step toward the province’s commitment of connecting an additional two million Ontarians to care over the next four years. This initiative is part of Ontario’s $1.8 billion investment in expanding access to team-based, publicly funded primary care. The focus on supporting communities where access to care is lowest demonstrates a thoughtful and evidence-based approach to addressing health system challenges.
Ontario’s health care system is facing a crisis - too many people simply can't find a family doctor or access the care they need. Interprofessional primary care teams have a proven track record of connecting more people to comprehensive, coordinated care close to home.
Reaching the goal of primary care for all Ontarians will require both the expansion of existing interprofessional teams already embedded in local communities, and the creation of new teams in areas with the greatest need. Additionally, ensuring these teams can provide timely, high-quality care will require investments in recruitment and retention as well as modern digital infrastructure that connects the system and reduces administrative burdens for care providers. We applaud the government for recognizing that these teams are the best path forward and are encouraged that additional resources will come to support the dedicated people working in primary care.
“Ensuring access to comprehensive primary care for every Ontarian is one of the most critical challenges we are facing today,” said Jess Rogers, CEO. “AFHTO is committed to working collaboratively with the government to co-design the future of primary care. By drawing on the proven experience and expertise of our members and the communities they serve, we can help build stronger, team-based models of care that meet the needs of Ontarians today—and for generations to come.”
Main Contact
Michael Scarpitti
Director Strategic Communication and Government Relations
AFHTO – Advancing Primary Care Teams
Michael.scarpitti@afhto.ca