Ontario announces $6M to expand primary care access in Waterloo Region

The province is pledging millions of dollars to help more people find a family doctor. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk explains how.

The Ontario government is making a $6 million investment to expand access to primary health care in Waterloo Region.

On Monday, the province announced three of the recipients who will get a portion of those funds – Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo, Woolwich Community Health Centre and KW4 OHT and their community partners. They did not specify how much each of those organizations would get.

The money, they said, would help approximately 17,444 residents in the region.

“The funding recognizes the urgent need to strengthen primary care access across Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot Townships,” Benjamin Hesch, Woolwich Community Health Centre’s CEO, said in a media release. “By expanding our integrated team, Woolwich Community Health Centre (WCHC) can attach over 5,000 patients to comprehensive, coordinated care and reduce pressures across the health system while improving health outcomes for people who have faced barriers to access.”

The investment is part of the Primary Care Action Plan, which aims to get everyone a family doctor or primary care provider by 2029.

The province said an additional 330,000 people had connected with one as of Jan. 1, more than three months ahead of their stated goal.

More to come.