You need access to good healthcare services to enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life in a new country. The Canadian government understands this and provides universal access to hospital and physician services through Medicare, a publicly funded healthcare system. Consequently, 70% of healthcare services in Canada are free.
However, depending on residency status, immigrants have limited access to free healthcare services and professionals like family doctors. For example, only permanent residents can apply for public health insurance under Medicare[1].
At Remitly, we care about your quality of life in a new country. So, we’ve prepared this guide on how to find family doctors in Canada and suitable alternatives if you don’t get one.
Understanding the role of a family doctor
A family doctor—sometimes called a general practitioner—treats patients of all ages. They handle all general sicknesses and issues, including chronic conditions.
A family doctor is the person you see for everyday issues. Some of the healthcare services they provide include:
- Running tests such as blood sugar, blood pressure, pap smear, and blood count.
- Preventative care, advising you on how to avoid falling sick.
- Treating all illnesses.
- Sending you to a specialist when you need one.
- Diagnosing diseases.
- Writing prescription notes for medication.
- Advising you further when buying over-the-counter medication, specifically those that don’t need a doctor’s prescription.
Importance of having a family doctor for your healthcare needs
Family doctors are essential for many reasons:
- They keep a record of your medical history, offering reliable, professional help when you need it.
- They develop a personal relationship with you, providing highly personalized and well-informed care.
- You can schedule appointments to avoid queueing.
- They can visit your home if you can’t go to the clinic.
- They give support for significant medical conditions like tuberculosis, which require immigrants to follow the prescribed medical surveillance process. Medical surveillance is a mandatory health service for newcomers to track the progress of inactive tuberculosis.
- They refer patients to specialists. You can’t book a direct appointment to see a specialist in Canada.
Is it hard to find family doctors in Canada?
Despite having over 48,000 family doctors, Canada suffers from a shortage of healthcare professionals. There’s a high demand for these services and a low supply, as fewer medical students are specializing in family medicine.
More people are leaving the profession than those joining, and many more practicing family doctors are set to retire in a few years. If nothing is done to reverse this trend, there will be a shortage of 20,000 family doctors by 2031.
Another issue is that more family doctors are switching from general care to specialized fields. In 2021, for example, 30% of family doctors had chosen to specialize, venturing into general surgery, emergency medicine, cardiology, and psychiatry, among other specialties. As a result, over 6.5 million Canadians today don’t have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Regional differences and areas with shortages
A deeper look into how the provinces and territories are doing shows that some areas have higher family doctor shortages than others.
Canada has 13 regional ministries of health covering ten provinces and three territories. Each has their own health insurance plan, too. Here’s an overview of how family doctors are distributed across the country:
| Province/Territory | No. of family doctors |
| Ontario | 17,178 |
| Quebec | 11,549 |
| British Columbia | 7,615 |
| Alberta | 5,452 |
| Manitoba | 1,562 |
| Saskatchewan | 1,431 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,279 |
| New Brunswick | 1,181 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 666 |
| Prince Edward Island | 205 |
| Yukon | 75 |
| Northwest Territories | 46 |
| Nunavut | 25 |
(Source, 2023)
In Quebec, healthcare services are mostly in French, making it suitable for Francophone immigrants with limited English proficiency. However, English-speaking immigrants can be served in designated facilities that offer all their services in English.
Initiatives and programs to address the shortage
Several initiatives and programs have been introduced to reduce family doctor shortages and attract more healthcare professionals, such as:
- Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program: A new family medicine program created in a partnership between Queen’s University and Lakeridge Health Hospital. It offers medical students guaranteed residency placement in the Durham region.
- Medical schools: Three more medical schools are set to be developed at the University of Prince Edward Island, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Simon Fraser University.
- Training: Plans are underway to train more nurse practitioners, who are registered nurses with experience and extra training that allows them to perform duties similar to family doctors.
How to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner
Don’t let the numbers scare you. With the right information and tools, finding a family doctor or nurse practitioner in Canada can be a straightforward process. Here are a few tips to get you started on the right path:
- Ask for recommendations or referrals within your networks.
- Visit a walk-in clinic and ask for recommendations.
- Get help from a settlement services provider—a professional who helps immigrants settle in Canada. Permanent residents, resettled refugees, eligible temporary residents and their dependents, and specially approved persons can access these services for free in Canada, but not Quebec.
- Ask for help at a Community Health Centre near you. You can confirm legitimate centres using this list prepared by the Canadian Association of Community Health Centres (CACHC).
- Ask your nearest pharmacy. Pharmacies in Ontario, for instance, have information on a Health Care Connect program near you. To join the program, you’ll need a valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card.
- Use provincial healthcare resources.
- Use online tools and directories to find registered and licensed family doctors near you.
Provincial healthcare resources for finding family doctors
Each province offers resources patients can use to locate a family doctor. We’ll highlight five:
- HealthLinkBC in British Columbia
- Health Care Connect in Ontario
- Family Doctor Finder in Manitoba
- Find a Family Physician or Other Primary Care Provider in Nova Scotia
- Find a Family Physician by New Brunswick
Online tools and directories for finding a family physician
You can also use online tools and directories which often list licenced physicians, including:
- Canadian Medical Directory database
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta’s physician directory
- DocMapper, an interactive tool for finding the nearest physicians. French-speaking expats can use this version of the map instead.
Programs and waitlists to register with
Due to the high demand for family doctors in Canada, patient registration isn’t always quick. Confirm that your doctor of choice has room for new patients. Otherwise, expect to join a waitlist.
You can register with the following programs and waitlists to get a personal family doctor:
- Health811 is a free, safe, and confidential 24-hour service for Ontario residents.
- Health Care Connect for Ontario residents.
- Need a Family Practice Registry, a waitlist for Nova Scotia residents.
- Divisions of Family Practice waitlist for British Columbia residents.
Choosing the right family doctor
Choosing the right family doctor depends on your needs, as well as the doctor’s cost, expertise, and work ethic.
Factors to consider when selecting a family doctor
Before narrowing down your shortlist of potential family doctors, consider these factors:
- Reviews: from trusted people within your networks and online platforms.
- Affordability: The cost of living in Canada is high, so you need affordable health services to live within your means.
- Skill: Assess the doctor’s skill by researching their experience and credentials.
- Availability: Check the doctor’s availability, including weekends, holidays, and after-hours.
- Location: Consider their proximity to your home or workplace.
- Accessibility: Confirm the doctor’s work ethic, positive attitude, people skills, and patience when explaining issues.
- Communication skills: The doctor should explain matters clearly, honestly, ethically, and empathetically.
- Opportunity: Confirm the doctor’s ability to take on new patients.
- Structure: Check if the doctor is part of a group practice. This is to ensure you can quickly access an alternative when your doctor is unavailable.
Questions to ask potential family doctors
You may need to interview a few potential family doctors before settling on the right one. Ask questions that clear up issues surrounding:
- Years of experience
- Expertise in treating an underlying condition, if you have one
- Availability, including after-hours consultations for urgent care
- Opinion on preventive care
- Coordination with specialists
- Relationship with major hospitals, in case you need to be admitted
- Openness to telehealth services
- Relationship with insurance providers, including yours
Comparing family doctors and pediatricians for children
You’ll also need to understand your physician’s ability to handle children. Although a family doctor treats patients of all ages, you may need someone who specializes in children’s needs.
Generally, a family doctor who can handle young children is better for your household. In case of children-specific medical conditions, they can refer you to an acceptable pediatrician.
Tips for maintaining a good relationship with your family doctor
A good family doctor is worth their weight in gold, so maintaining a good relationship once you find one is key. Because they will be your first contact with medical services in Canada, you’ll see them regularly for everyday ailments, developing a personal relationship. Keep things running smoothly with these helpful tips:
- Be professional, respect boundaries, and raise issues respectfully.
- Always be punctual. Call them early enough if you’ll be late or miss the appointment.
- Be honest about your concerns.
- Respect their time off and only contact them when necessary.
- Actively listen to and implement their advice.
- Follow treatment plans to a T.
- Keep clear records and disclose medical information, such as medical tests you’ve done in other facilities.
Steps to get started with family health care in your area
Now that you know how to find a family doctor, what should you do to receive health services in Canada? It’s simple; just follow these steps:
- Step 1: Apply for public health insurance through Medicare in your province or territory if you’re eligible.
- Step 2: Supplement public health insurance with a private international health insurance cover of your choice.
- Step 3: Find a family doctor that suits your needs.
- Step 4: Register with the family doctor by completing the registration form.
- Step 5: Work together with your doctor to develop a care plan.
Alternatives if you don’t have a family doctor
If you still haven’t found a family doctor or a nurse practitioner, don’t worry. There are plenty of alternatives available in Canada, but you may have to wait for an available appointment time.
- Walk-in clinics are great for non-urgent care. You don’t need to book an appointment in most cases.
- Urgent care centres are an option when you have unexpected health issues that aren’t life-threatening but need same-day assistance, like an infection or injury.
- Virtual care or telehealth services are healthcare services you receive without physically visiting a doctor’s office. You can book an online appointment for a consultation.
Accessing specialist care without a family doctor
You can’t directly book appointments with specialists in Canada. Usually, a family doctor refers patients to specialists, but the process is different if you don’t have a family doctor.
Visit a walk-in clinic near you and discuss your condition. The doctors there will assess the urgency and need for specialist care and then write a referral letter. In some provinces, nurse practitioners can refer patients to specialists.
Start your happy, healthy future in Canada
Canada may be facing a doctor shortage, but finding good nurse practitioners or family doctors doesn’t have to be difficult. By taking proactive steps, you can ensure a healthy, happy future for you and your family in your new home.
FAQ
Why is a family doctor important?
A family doctor is a general practitioner who treats all kinds of sicknesses for patients of all ages. They also refer patients to a specialist when there is a need for specialized care.
Is it hard to get family doctors in Canada?
Yes, Canada is currently facing a shortage of healthcare providers. Today, more and more family doctors are switching to specialist fields, and fewer medical students are choosing the profession, adding to the challenge.
How do you find a family doctor in Canada?
Ask for recommendations within your networks, use provincial healthcare resources, or search legitimate online directories.
What are the alternatives if you don’t find one?
If you don’t have a family doctor, visit a walk-in clinic or urgent care centre, depending on how urgent your case is. Alternatively, get on your computer or smartphone and book a consultation with a doctor online.