Ontario connecting 10,000 more people to primary care in Parry Sound-Muskoka

The Ontario Government is investing over $4.5 million to connect an additional 10,400 people to primary care across Parry Sound-Muskoka.

“Our government is making record investments in health care and taking real action to connect more people in Parry Sound-Muskoka to the care they need,” said Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka. “This funding will help our family health teams and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics create more spaces for patients, recruit more doctors and nurse practitioners, and connect more residents to primary care. While there is still more work to do, this investment is another important step forward in our plan to ensure everyone in our community can access a family doctor or primary care provider. I’m proud to see Parry Sound-Muskoka benefit from our government’s continued commitment to strengthening local health care.”

The funding is being split across several key regional health providers. In South Muskoka, the Cottage Country Family Health Team (CCFHT) is getting over $2.1 million to bring primary care to more than 6,000 patients. Further north, the Algonquin Family Health Team and North Muskoka Clinic will see $620,000 to connect nearly 1,700 people to a doctor.

“This announcement represents a meaningful and much-needed win for the entire region, strengthening access to care for the communities we collectively serve,” said Trish Mintz, Executive Director of CCFHT.

The West Parry Sound region is also seeing a boost, with over $1.1 million headed to the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC) serving over 2,000 new patients. Additionally, the Wasauksing First Nation Health Department will receive nearly $616,000 to expand care for over 650 community members.

Officials said the investment is part of the government’s Primary Care Action Plan, which will see its funding increase to a total of $3.4 billion between 2025 and 2029. It’s part of the province’s plan to connect every Ontario resident with a primary health care provider by 2029.

Each organization will establish and communicate a local process for accepting new patients, supported by a plan to connect a high proportion of unattached residents, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist, to a primary care provider.

Officials said these teams have been funded through the latest call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan, with all 124 funded teams expected to connect another 500,000 patients to primary care across Ontario.

According to officials, the province has exceeded its 2025-26 attachment goal under this plan, which was to connect 300,000 patients to a primary care provider by March 31, 2026. As of January 1, the province had already connected 330,000 people to care in 2025-26, surpassing its goal by more than 30,000 with three months still to go.

Mauricio Prado
Mauricio Pradohttps://www.mymuskokanow.com/
Mauricio Prado is a journalist seeking narratives beyond the surface to connect with people and community. A graduate of Fanshawe College's journalism program, Mauricio brings a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling to his work. His Salvadoran roots combined with his knowledge, allow him to bring a global perspective and sharp cultural understanding to his storytelling. If you have a story to share, email mprado@vistaradio.ca

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