Just How Hard is it to Find a Family Doctor in Canada?

But, the reality is that many Canadian residents still prefer the certainty of no out-of-pocket costs for many doctor visits over an entirely private system – even if the system is a little clogged. In this post, we dig into Canada’s healthcare system to find out just how hard it is to find a family doctor in Canada. Plus some alternatives to the family-doctor system if you’re having a hard time sourcing one for yourself and your loved ones.  

Key Takeaways 

• There is a relatively severe shortage of family doctors across Canada, particularly in Canada’s territories, British Columbia, and Quebec. 

• The shortage extends to specialists too, with some regions having multiple month-long waitlists to see specialists, like dermatologists or even pediatricians.  

• Access to care is really important for early detection of health issues and management of chronic conditions. It leads to better overall health outcomes.   

• Telehealth and private health innovations, like Maple, are starting to fill the gap in access to care. 

How Do You Find a Family Doctor in Canada?  

Finding a family doctor is part art, part science, and part dumb luck.  

In most provinces and territories, you can join a wait list via the health authority. These lists are often very long, and you can expect to wait years to get on the lists.  

However, with some work, you may be able to skip that queue – this is where the art and luck parts come in.  

You may be able to get a family doctor by researching online and finding clinics that are opening soon or that have recently opened. Some of these will have a wait list or may be accepting new patients. Others may fill very quickly or may be full right away if they are taking on a retiring doctor’s patient load.  

In other words, finding a family doctor by proactively scouting local lists can help you find a doctor in Canada a little faster – but it does require some effort on your part.  

Here’s a detailed list of the health registries for each province/territory plus some additional websites that might help:  

Find a Family Doctor in Alberta 

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/page13253.aspx  

https://albertafindadoctor.ca/ 

Find a Family Doctor in BC 

https://findadoctorbc.ca/ (this one is a gold mine if you’re looking for a doctor in the near term — it requires regularly checking back in, but it can be much faster than the health connect registry!)  

https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry  

Find a Family Doctor in Manitoba 

https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/familydoctorfinder/  

Find a Family Doctor in New Brunswick

https://patientconnectnb.ca/  

Find a Family Doctor in Newfoundland and Labrador

https://www.811healthline.ca/family-physician-registry  

Find a Family Doctor in the Northwest Territories

Contact the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority:
https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/  

Find a Family Doctor in Nova Scotia

https://needafamilypractice.nshealth.ca/ 

Find a Family Doctor in Nunavut

Visit the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health website or contact your local health centre: https://www.gov.nu.ca/health 

Find a Family Doctor in Ontario

https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner 

Register at Health Care Connect: https://hcc3.hcc.moh.gov.on.ca/HCCWeb/faces/layoutHCCHomePage.xhtml 

You can also call 8-1-1 to find a family doctor in Ontario.  

Finally, you can use the physician search option, which can help you find a doctor who speaks your language: https://register.cpso.on.ca/Advanced-Search/  

Find a Family Doctor in Prince Edward Island

https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/request-a-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner 

Find a Family Doctor in Quebec

https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/finding-a-resource/registering-family-doctor  

Find a Family Doctor in Saskatchewan

https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/patients-visitors/find-a-doctor  

Find a Family Doctor in Yukon

https://yukon.ca/en/health-and-wellness/doctors/find-or-change-family-doctor 

Reddit is also a relatively good resource for finding a family doctor. There are many examples of people jumping onto the forum for their local area and getting multiple options for family doctors that are currently accepting patients.  

Why Does It Matter If You Can’t Find a Family Doctor? 

The main reason it’s important to find a family doctor in Canada is that all the research shows that having a main point of contact for care improves health outcomes. In other words, a family doctor contributes to your overall health.  

Here are some of the main benefits of having a family doctor:  

• It helps you receive comprehensive and continuous care. Your family doctor is your first point of contact for non-emergency medical needs.

• They get to know you and your family’s medical history, which can help them offer preventative measures for your health.  

• Better management of chronic conditions, like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. 

• Your family doctor can refer you to specialists and help you coordinate care. 

• You get easier access to diagnostic services with a family doctor, too.  

• Finally, you build a trusted relationship with a family doctor, which can improve your sense of community, promote open communication, and result in more informed care.  

This Reddit post demonstrates how having a family doctor more easily opens doors to other services in Canada:  

How impossible is it to find a family doctor in the Okanagan?
byu/Okanagan_Dionysus inkelowna

What Other Resources Are Available If You Can’t Find a Family Doctor in Canada?  

Fortunately, a lack of family doctor does not mean you can’t access care at all in Canada. There are a host of other options that help you access the care you need:  

Urgent Care Providers  

Urgent care providers in Canada are clinics or specialized treatment centers that handle non-life-threatening medical issues requiring prompt attention. They’re ideal for treating sprains, minor cuts, infections, tick and insect bites, fevers, and other urgent concerns that can’t wait for a regular family doctor’s appointment. However, if you’re experiencing severe symptoms, you should always go to an emergency room or call 9-1-1. 

Because urgent care clinics vary by province or territory, their operating hours, services, and even names may differ. Most accept patients on a walk-in basis, meaning you don’t need an appointment, and many offer extended hours to accommodate busy schedules. Provincial health insurance typically covers visits to these clinics if you have a valid health card, but it’s wise to double-check with your local health authority for specific details. 

Walk-In Clinics 

Walk-in clinics offer non-urgent care for those who don’t have a family doctor. They’re free (so long as you’re registered for provincial healthcare (MSP, OHIP, etc)), but the caveat is that you may have to wait – sometimes up to a few hours – to be seen by a doctor.  

In most cases, you won’t need an appointment to see a doctor. Though some walk-in clinics do allow you to register your spot online or book an appointment to reduce the amount of time you wait.   

8-1-1 Non-Emergency Medical Advice Line 

8-1-1 is a free, confidential health information line offered in many parts of Canada. When you call, you connect with registered nurses who can provide advice on health concerns, symptoms, and next steps. If you need emergency care, you should still call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest hospital. 

Some provinces call 8-1-1 by other names like Health Link or HealthLine, but the idea is the same. You can often access mental health services or speak with dietitians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals through this service. It’s typically available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Because each province and territory manages its own 8-1-1 service, the exact offerings may vary. For example, some have translation services in multiple languages, while others focus more on specific programs like smoking cessation or maternal health. Regardless, it’s meant to give you quick, reliable information so you can make informed decisions about your health. 

Private Telehealth Providers 

Private telehealth providers are an emerging innovation in Canada, and we’re excited for it. They do usually come at an additional cost, but these costs are usually quite affordable – think about $80/month. Although, some provinces give individuals access to online telehealth services through provincial sponsored programs – including Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick (check online for any requirements to meet for these to be covered).  

So, for the cost of a Skip The Dishes date night, you can get access to a family doctor from your home – or wherever you are – for yourself and your entire family, whenever you need it. 

These services give you access to a doctor or nurse practitioner via text or virtual call. You can access many of the ‘usual’ services doctors offer, including prescriptions, doctor’s notes, and lab work requests. Some, like Maple, even offer free delivery on your prescriptions.  

Speaking of Maple, we’re pleased to announce that we’ve partnered with Maple to help newcomers to Canada access the care they need. For just $79.99 per month, you get:  

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care
  provider for each family member in their household 

• Pediatric care: Complimentary pediatric primary care visits 

• Second medical opinions: Access to a network of experts for a second opinion if
  diagnosed with a severe condition (e. g. MS or cancer) while a member.  

• Personal Health Check-Ins: Personalized proactive care recommendations to maintain
  and improve health. 

• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy)
  self-assessment and courses. 

• Access to Specialists: Access to specialists within days, not months. No Referral is
  needed.  

• Specialist referrals: Easy access to specialist referrals if needed  

• Credits: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a specialty visit. 

Skip the walk-in clinic and get access to healthcare when you need it. 

Get started with Maple today and speak with a doctor in just minutes