Ontario's Health Care Connect: Broken or Baffling?

Many Ontarians are experiencing prolonged waits for family doctors, with the centralized Health Care Connect (HCC) system failing to meet their needs. Anne Bradley, a cancer survivor, shared her frustration after losing her physician twice, highlighting a growing distrust in the system designed to connect patients with primary care. This system, intended to streamline doctor assignments, often leaves patients waiting for over a year, with over 108,000 registrants facing such delays as of June 2025.

The effectiveness of HCC has been questioned by Ontario's auditor general, who found the system outdated since its 2009 inception and unsupported by many health teams. Reports indicate a lack of consistent oversight from the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health in improving patient access. Meanwhile, local clinics in Ottawa and Kingston continue to manage their own patient lists, bypassing the centralized HCC process and causing further bewilderment.

Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Health states that the waitlist has decreased by 65 percent this year and plans to connect all individuals on the Jan. 1, 2025, waitlist to primary care by spring 2026. This initiative is part of a $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan, aiming to add capacity through new and expanded primary care teams. Community volunteers in Ottawa are also stepping in to assist patients, demonstrating the urgent need for improved access to care.