Struggling to find a family doctor in Canada? Discover practical strategies to help you locate the right physician for you and your family.
Online directories
Begin your search with provincial directories that provide information about doctors’ specialties, contact information and sometimes, whether they’re accepting new patients.
Community health centres
Community health centres often have family doctors on staff. You can ask to be added to a waiting list if they’re not currently accepting new patients.
Ask for referrals
Just as when looking for a job, ask friends, family members, colleagues or local Facebook groups if they have a family doctor they would recommend. Personal recommendations can help you find a doctor who fits your needs. Other medical professionals such as your pharmacist, dentist or midwife may know of a family doctor accepting new patients as well. It never hurts to ask.
Visit your provincial Ministry of Health
Some provincial ministries have programs to
match residents with family physicians accepting new patients. In Ontario, Health Care Connect (health.gov.on.ca) invites Ontarians with a valid health card to register online to
be matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner in their area.
When contacting potential family doctors, ask whether they are accepting new patients and confirm any specific preferences or requirements you have to ensure they are a good fit for you and your family before scheduling an appointment.
Published in March 2024.
