Have Primary Care Renewal Initiatives in Canada Increased Comprehensive Care for Patients with Complex Care Needs? Yes and No.

Abstract

The First Ministers Health Accords of 2001 through 2003 (Health Canada 2006) launched the renewal of primary care toward more comprehensive care delivery models. We scanned government websites in the 10 Canadian provinces to assess how comprehensive and integrated renewal models were for health and social services in 2018. More comprehensive primary care delivery models were the norm in five out of 10 provinces. The policy approaches were: (1) expanding traditional family practice; (2) creating primary care networks; and (3) increasing the number of community health centres, which provide the broadest range of health and social care. Integration initiatives were limited to medical services. Additional financial and policy investments will be required to meet the comprehensive needs of patients with complex health and social needs at a system level.