TORONTO — The Ontario government says it is moving forward with the next phase of its Primary Care Action Plan, including the development of a provincewide medical record system and increased funding aimed at connecting all residents to a primary care provider by 2029.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the government has already surpassed its target of attaching 300,000 people to primary care providers for the 2025–26 fiscal year. As of Jan. 1, 2026, approximately 330,000 Ontarians had been connected to care, exceeding the goal with three months remaining.
The province also confirmed in its upcoming 2026 budget that total funding for the plan will reach $3.4 billion between 2025 and 2029.
A central component of the next phase is the creation of a provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system. The government says the system will integrate patient records across Ontario, allowing clinicians to access medical histories, test results and treatment information more easily.
Currently, while most family physicians in Ontario use electronic medical records, those systems are not fully connected. Patients transferring between providers often face delays, repeated testing, or fees to move their records.
Officials say the new system is intended to address those gaps by creating a secure, interoperable platform accessible across the province. The system would allow clinicians to access patient information with consent and is expected to reduce administrative work for providers.
The Ministry of Health will begin a competitive procurement process to select a vendor for the system. The province is working in partnership with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board on the initiative, citing the role of primary care access in supporting worker recovery and return to employment.
In addition to the digital system, the government announced that 124 applicants have been selected to establish or expand primary care teams. These teams are expected to connect up to 500,000 additional patients to care, with further details to be released in the coming weeks.
The province says its broader strategy includes expanding team-based care, where patients can access services from multiple health professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners and other specialists.
Dr. Jane Philpott, chair of the Primary Care Action Team, said the integration of medical records and increased funding for team-based care are intended to improve coordination and patient outcomes.
The government also reports progress in reducing the Health Care Connect waitlist, stating it has declined by more than 87 per cent since early 2025.
Ontario has added nearly 20,000 physicians to its workforce since 2018, including a more than 14 per cent increase in family doctors, according to provincial figures.
The 2026 Ontario budget, expected to be released March 26, will include additional details on the government’s health-care investments and broader economic plan.
