Understanding the use of and compensation for virtual-care services in primary care
Publication year: 2018
Provincial and territorial health systems across Canada
continue to struggle with delivering timely access to
primary-care services. In 2016, 74% of Canadians reported
in the Commonwealth International Health Policy Survey
that they received excellent or very good care from their
regular doctor, which is above the 11-country average of
65%. However, Canadians also reported the longest wait
times to see a primary-care provider across the 10 countries,
with one in five reporting a wait of over seven days the last
time they needed medical attention.
To address this challenge, policymakers across the country
have been increasingly exploring options to improve the
delivery of patient-centred health services through the
introduction and evolution of virtual care to enhance
accessibility and efficiency.