Wellesley Institute

Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

Home Publications Barriers and enablers to primary care access for equity-deserving populations in Ontario

Sarah Sanford, Yu-ling Yin, Christine Sheppard

Barriers and enablers to primary care access for equity-deserving populations in Ontario

Close up filling out paperwork while waiting for medical examination at doctor's office.

Primary care is a foundational part of the healthcare system. Yet many Ontarians lack a regular healthcare provider and there are inequities accessing primary care services, especially for racialized, low-income and 2SLBGTQ+ populations.   

This scoping review identified 68 peer-review studies that discussed 17 different barriers and enablers to primary care access for these populations. While many barriers and enablers were unique to each population, there were also many common experiences. 

The findings in this report point to potential broad directions for addressing inequities in primary care access in Ontario. 

We are grateful for funding from the Ministry of Health of the Province of Ontario, which enabled this scoping review. A future report will use focus groups and interviews to validate these findings and identify community-based solutions to improving primary care access. 

Barriers and Enablers to Primary Care Access for Equity Deserving Populations in Ontario – A Scoping Review

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Obstacles et facteurs facilitants en matière d’accès aux soins primaires pour les populations privées d’équité de l’Ontario : Un examen de la portée

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Sarah Sanford

Sarah Sanford

Sarah Sanford is a researcher working on a Needs Assessment for the Supportive Housing Growth Plan in Toronto. Prior to joining the Wellesley Institute, she worked at Toronto Public Health on a number of files related to the social determinants of health, including pharmacare and access to prescription medication, and approaches to reducing food insecurity in Toronto. Sarah has designed and led qualitative research for numerous research projects on the social and political dimensions of health and well-being. Sarah has a PhD from the University of Toronto where she engaged with critical social theory to study pandemic preparedness in global health policy.

Yu-ling Yin

Yu-ling Yin

Yu-Ling (Yuri) Yin is a researcher at Wellesley Institute and holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Toronto, specializing in mental health and health, with a focus on immigrants and people living with disabilities. Prior to starting at Wellesley Institute, he was a social worker with over seven years of experience supporting people living with developmental disabilities in Taiwan.

Christine Sheppard

Christine Sheppard

Dr. Christine Sheppard received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Toronto, specializing in gerontology, and holds a PhD in Health Studies and Gerontology (with a focus on aging, health and well-being). Prior to starting at Wellesley Institute, she was a CIHR-funded post-doctoral fellow Sunnybrook Research Institute specializing in knowledge translation in urban housing and health. Sheppard_CL

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.