Reshape Primary Care in Canada

Three Changes That Could Reshape Primary Care in Canada

Primary care in Canada is under pressure.

Demand for primary care is growing across Canada. Clinics are working to keep up, while physicians are spending more time on administrative work than on patient care

At the same time, three policy developments are unfolding that could shape the future of primary care in Canada. They’re not getting much attention yet. But together, they could have a big impact.

1. A new interpretation of the Canada Health Act

Starting April 1, a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act will expand public coverage to include certain services delivered by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives when they provide care similar to physicians. Over time, this could also expand how services delivered by nurse practitioners are funded, with billing increasingly tied to the care provided rather than the provider.

Primary care has traditionally been organized around physicians. But healthcare is increasingly delivered by teams. This change recognizes that reality—and raises important questions about how care will be coordinated, how responsibilities are shared, and how consistent standards will be maintained.

2. A national guide for how primary care should work

The Health Standards Organization has released a draft National Standard for Primary Health Care Services for public review.

The goal is to define what high-quality primary care should look like across Canada and what patients should be able to expect from it. The draft highlights a shift toward:

• team-based care, rather than physician-only models
  
• easier access as a first point of contact
  
• continuity of care over time
  
• stronger coordination across services
  
• ongoing measurement and improvement of outcomes

While healthcare delivery differs across provinces, the standard aims to create a shared vision for how primary care should be organized and delivered nationwide.

3. A review of federal healthcare funding

In 2023, the federal government signed agreements with provinces that unlocked $46 billion in new healthcare funding.

Now the first review of those agreements is beginning.

This review will influence how future healthcare funding is used—and raises an important question: could federal funding be tied to national standards for primary care, not just hospitals?

A rare policy moment

Each of these developments affects a different part of the healthcare system:

• Who provides care
• What good primary care should look like
• How healthcare is funded

When these pieces move at the same time, real change becomes possible.

Countries like the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands show that funding alone doesn’t fix primary care. What matters is a clear vision of what patients should expect. Canada may have a chance to define that now

One more piece of the puzzle

Policy can reshape the system. But primary care also depends on the daily reality of practicing medicine.

Today, many family physicians spend 10–20 hours a week on administrative work — charting, referrals, billing, and forms. That’s time taken away from patients and from the sustainability of the profession.

If Canada wants a stronger primary care system, we need to think about both: how care is organized and how we give clinicians more time with patients.

At Pippen, we’re building tools that give family doctors their time back by removing paperwork.

Try Pippen → https://app.pippen.ai/signup