Ontario’s Family Doctor Shortage Intensifies as Residency Positions Remain Unfilled

Physicians in Ontario express concern over the growing number of unfilled spots earmarked for training future family doctors, as per newly released data, reports CBC.

Annually, graduates from medical schools determine their specialization, with the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) facilitating the process by matching them with residency positions at medical institutions in two phases.

Following the initial round of this year’s match, Ontario reported 108 vacant family medicine positions out of a total of 560, a surge from last year’s 103 unclaimed spots, based on CaRMS data.

This uptick continues a concerning trend, with numbers escalating from 100 in 2023, sharply up from 61 in 2022, 52 in 2021, and 30 in 2020.

Dr. David Barber, chairing the section on general and family practice with the OMA, highlights this trend, indicating a reluctance among medical students to opt for family medicine as their specialization.

Barber emphasizes, “It’s because during medical school the students work with family doctors and train under family doctors. They see how stressful it is, how underfunded it is and how unhappy that the family doctors are.”

The Ontario College of Family Physicians warns that across the province, 2.3 million individuals lack a family doctor, a figure projected to surge to 4.4 million by 2026.

The diminishing pool of family medicine residents consequently translates to fewer doctors choosing this field post-residency, exacerbating Ontario’s family doctor shortage and prolonging challenges for those seeking care.

According to CaRMS data, only 30% of last year’s graduates ranked family medicine as their primary choice for specialization, marking a decline from 38% in 2015.

Lisa Turriff, communications director at CaRMS, anticipates that many of this year’s vacant positions could be filled after the second round of matching, slated for April 25.

Dr. Joseph Param, practicing family medicine in Scarborough, notes how systemic issues deter medical students from opting for family medicine, citing burdensome paperwork, long working hours, inadequate financial compensation, and the stress of managing a practice.

Param underscores the impact on physicians’ mental well-being and the subsequent preference for specialties offering better remuneration and work-life balance.

Despite significant investments by the Progressive Conservative government in expanding medical school spots and establishing new primary care teams, challenges persist.

Hannah Jensen, a spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones, highlights ongoing negotiations with the Ontario Medical Association over a new physician services agreement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to bolstering primary care and healthcare workforce expansion.

Parvasi Media Group