The importance of having a family doctor

A recent analysis from McMaster University confirms what we’ve known for years: when patients don’t have access to a family doctor, everyone loses.

Patients without a family doctor face worse health outcomes—more hospitalizations, higher mortality rates and fragmented care. For the healthcare system, the impact is just as serious, with increased costs and inefficiencies straining limited resources.

The reasons behind the crisis are no surprise: an aging workforce, fewer graduates choosing family medicine and the unsustainable pressures of the job.

Here in B.C., the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model offers one path forward. By valuing time spent on comprehensive, patient-centred care, it’s helping make family medicine more sustainable for all of us. It’s a concrete example of how better support for family doctors leads to better outcomes for doctors and patients.

The McMaster analysis is a powerful reminder of why we need to keep pushing for change. We’re committed to building a future where family doctors are supported, respected, and empowered to do what they do best—care for patients. Together, we can ensure that family medicine isn’t just surviving, but thriving.

BC Family Doctors is leading the charge to make family medicine sustainable. Through our work for better compensation and practice improvements, we’re ensuring family doctors are supported to provide the kind of care patients need. We will continue to advocate for changes to address the challenges facing our members and to build a future where family medicine is a viable, rewarding career so that all British Columbians can access relationship-based care through a family doctor.