Government boosts funding to $3.4 billion as patient attachment targets surpass expectations
TORONTO — Ontario is moving ahead with a major expansion of its primary care strategy, announcing plans to implement a provincewide medical record system while increasing total funding for its Primary Care Action Plan to $3.4 billion through 2029.
The initiative, unveiled Thursday by the Ministry of Health, is part of a broader effort to ensure every Ontarian is connected to a family doctor or primary care provider by the end of the decade. The new digital system is expected to streamline patient information sharing, reduce administrative burdens for clinicians and improve continuity of care across the province.
“Through our Primary Care Action Plan, we are connecting more people to care and have already exceeded our 2025-26 attachment target,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By launching a provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system, we are making care more connected and convenient so patients don’t have to repeat their medical history and clinicians can focus on providing excellent patient care, instead of unnecessary paperwork.”
Attachment targets exceeded ahead of schedule
The province reported it has already surpassed its 2025–26 goal of connecting 300,000 patients to primary care providers. As of Jan. 1, 2026, approximately 330,000 people had been attached to care — exceeding the target by more than 30,000 with months remaining in the fiscal year.
The government also confirmed that 124 applicants have been selected to establish new or expanded primary care teams. These teams are expected to connect an additional 500,000 patients across Ontario, with further details on successful applicants to be released in the coming weeks.
Each team has committed to prioritizing unattached patients in their communities, including individuals currently on the Health Care Connect waitlist.
Digital system aims to address fragmented records
At the centre of the announcement is the creation of a provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system — a move aimed at addressing longstanding challenges with fragmented electronic medical records (EMRs).
While roughly 90 per cent of Ontario’s family physicians already use EMRs, the systems are often not interoperable, limiting information sharing between providers. As a result, patients frequently need to repeat their medical histories, pay fees to transfer records or undergo duplicate diagnostic testing.
The proposed system will create a secure, interoperable platform accessible across the province, enabling clinicians to access comprehensive patient histories with consent. The government says this will reduce delays, improve care coordination and lower out-of-pocket costs for patients.
“Building a modern, connected primary care system is essential to improving the health of Ontarians,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of the Primary Care Action Team. “We are adding clinical capacity with more funding for team-based care. Now we are adding the Primary Care Medical Record system which will give clinicians the tools they need to deliver more coordinated, patient centred care, while reducing administrative burden and improving outcomes.”
Physicians will have the option to transition to the new system, with the province exploring financial supports to offset associated costs.
Procurement process and workforce implications
To support implementation, Ontario will launch an open competitive procurement process to establish a Vendor of Record arrangement. A market sounding process has already been initiated through the Ontario Tenders Portal.
The Ministry of Health is partnering with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) on the initiative, emphasizing the link between timely access to care and workforce productivity.
“When injured workers cannot access care quickly, it can delay recovery, create stress for families and keep people out of the workforce longer than necessary,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That is why our government is supporting smarter, more connected care and helping workers access timely care, reducing delays, and supporting a safe return to work.”
Broader economic and system impacts
The expansion of primary care access is also positioned as part of Ontario’s broader economic strategy, with officials highlighting the role of health system efficiency in supporting labour market participation and long-term growth.
“Our government will continue to support a health-care system that is comprehensive, convenient and connected for every single person in Ontario to close the gap for people in need of primary care,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “This is how we protect Ontario today, while building the province efficiently and sustainably for future generations.”
The government says additional details on its economic and health-care priorities will be outlined in the 2026 provincial budget, scheduled for release on March 26.
Progress toward universal access
Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, backed by more than $3.4 billion in funding, aims to connect approximately two million additional residents to primary care by 2029.
The province reports significant progress in reducing its Health Care Connect waitlist, which has declined by more than 87 per cent since early 2025. The plan also builds on workforce expansion, with nearly 20,000 physicians added since 2018, including a more than 14 per cent increase in family doctors.
Interprofessional primary care teams — which bring together physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals — are expected to play a central role in achieving universal access, offering patients more integrated and convenient care options.
As Ontario moves forward with digital integration and expanded team-based care, the government is positioning the initiative as a cornerstone of a more connected and sustainable health system.