Most children in Canada have access to primary health care providers

A new report from Statistics Canada indicates that 89 per cent of children and youth, up to age 17 and living in Canada, had a primary health care provider in 2024.

Entitled Primary health care access and experience among children and youth: Results from the 2024 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, the report notes that the proportion of children and youth with a primary health care provider varied by province. Rates of coverage range between 94 per cent, reported in Ontario, and 68 per cent, reported in Prince Edward Island. 

They say among the 11 per cent of children and youth who did not have a primary health care provider, parents indicated that their families were without one because theirs had left or retired 32 per cent of the time, while 33 per cent said there were no physicians taking new patients in their area. They say these rates are similar to those reported in 2023.

Of those surveyed, 42 per cent were able to consult a primary health care provider the same or next day. “In addition to those who were able to consult the same or next day, 40 per cent were able to consult a provider within two days to less than two weeks and 18 per cent waited two weeks or more for the consultation.” They add that 68 per cent were satisfied with their wait times to see a primary health care provider.

Long-term health conditions

Those with long-term health conditions, however, were less likely to see a primary healthcare provider in the same time periods. In 2024, 28 per cent of children and youth had one or more long-term health conditions. “Just over one in three children and youth (36 per cent) with a long-term condition were able to consult a primary health care provider the same or next day, compared with 46 per cent of those without a long-term condition,” they write. “The proportion is even lower among those diagnosed with a mental health disorder.” 

Among those children with physical disorders, 40 per cent were able to see a care provider within a day. This drops to 32 per cent for those with neurodevelopmental disorders and 21 per cent of those with mental health disorders.