OurCare Element 1

The first element of the Standard affirms that everyone living in Canada has an ongoing relationship with a primary care clinician — whether a family doctor or nurse practitioner — and that this clinician should actively work with other health professionals in a team-based setting or network. It also affirms a key Canadian value: that health care should remain publicly funded and free at the point of access to all.

Only 84% of Ontarians have access to a primary care clinician and 26% of Ontarians have access to team-based care (INSPIRE-PHC, 2023). Rates of retirement and practice transitions out of longitudinal primary care have increased dramatically in the last five years, threatening the human resources (HHR) base to achieve primary care for all. Distribution of clinical and non-clinical team members in some communities is also critical. Recent primary care investments provide an opportunity to take strategic action to address this and to work toward achieving the OurCare Standard (Government of Ontario, 2025)