The lack of family doctors in remote communities

Canada faces significant healthcare access challenges due to the shortage of doctors and physicians, especially in rural and remote communities.

Originally published in MediUnite, Volume 2 (May, 2024). Republished on Medium in June 2026. Read full pamphlet here.

A U.N. ambulance drives past a displaced South Sudanese man in a camp for internally displaced people in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) compound in Tomping, Juba, South Sudan, July 12, 2016. Beatrice Mategwa/United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)/Handout via REUTERS.

Access to healthcare in Canada has long presented multiple challenges, especially for those who live far from major cities. Remote and isolated communities are less accessible for medical professionals, who may be deterred by limited infrastructure, sparse resources, and extensive travel requirements. One of the major barriers is the distance to reach remote communities, which often involves complicated transportation logistics. However, this is not the only problem; Canada is currently in the midst of a broader healthcare crisis marked by a shortage of medical professionals.

A national survey revealed that over 6.5 million Canadians — more than one in five — lack regular access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. In major cities, where healthcare resources are typically more concentrated, the shortage is also keenly felt.

Even among those who have a primary care provider, 60% cannot get a same-day or next-day appointment for common issues like a sprained ankle or a urinary tract infection. This strain on urban healthcare has a ripple effect on remote areas, which have historically faced challenges in accessing medical services.

Approximately 20% of Canadians live in rural, remote, Indigenous, coastal, or northern communities, but only 8% of physicians practice in non-urban areas. This mismatch leads to longer wait times, limited medical services, and the need to travel for basic care.

To tackle this issue, the federal government announced a new incentive program to encourage healthcare providers to work in rural and isolated areas. Since February, the federal government has offered up to $60,000 in student loan forgiveness for family doctors and up to $30,000 for nurses or nurse practitioners who commit to work over a five-year period — an increase of 50% in loan forgiveness. The government estimates that this approach could attract nearly 1,200 additional doctors and 4,000 more nurses to rural communities over the next decade.

However, experts caution that this incentive may not be enough. To truly bridge the healthcare access gap, solutions must consider the unique needs of remote communities, such as improving transportation and telemedicine infrastructure. Addressing these complex challenges will require a coordinated effort from policymakers, healthcare providers, and local communities.

References

1. National Post. (2024). Canada family doctor shortage. Retrieved from https://nationalpost.com/health/canada-family-doctor-shortage#:~:text=The%20reality%20is%20that%20family%2Ddoctor%20to%20run%20that%20business.,text=That%27s%20why%20they%27re%20looking%20to%20get%20out.
2. UNBC. (n.d.). Issues affecting access to health services in northern communities. University of Northern British Columbia. Retrieved from https://www3.unbc.ca/sites/default/files/sections/northern-studies-issuesaffectingaccesstohealthservicesinnorthern.pdf
3. Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2022). A profile of physicians in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.cihi.ca/en/a-profile-of-physicians-in-canada
4. Industry, Science, and Economic Development Canada. (n.d.). Rural opportunity, national prosperity: An economic development strategy for rural Canada. Retrieved from https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/rural/en/rural-opportunity-national-prosperity-economic-development-strategy-rural-canada