The Family Doctor Crisis Will Deepen Before It Improves

By: Vijay Wadhawan
According to an estimate recently cited by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) it is estimated that more than 1 in 5 Canadians does not have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner they see regularly. The structural issues driving this crisis – outdated compensation models, overwhelming administrative burdens, and insufficient incentives for new medical graduates to pursue family practice – remain largely unresolved. stonebahis
In 2025, I believe we’ll see continued experimentation with team-based care models, expanded virtual consultations, and a further expanded scope of practice for pharmacists. Nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other allied healthcare professionals, already essential pillars of the healthcare system, will take on even greater responsibility, helping to fill gaps in access and alleviate pressure on overburdened family physicians.
AI and Digital Health Tools:
Promise and Pitfalls
AI is no longer a future promise—it’s here, actively transforming diagnostics, hospital management, and patient care pathways. These technologies are already demonstrating immense potential to improve outcomes, efficiency, and overall healthcare experiences.
In 2025, healthcare leaders will need to carefully balance this potential with critical considerations around ethical implementation, data privacy, and equitable access to technology.
As healthcare professionals grow more comfortable using AI tools, I anticipate we’ll see more pilot programs designed to test and refine these technologies, generating valuable data to demonstrate their impact on patient outcomes and care quality.
This evidence will not only validate the benefits of AI but also build public confidence, helping system users understand the value of these new technologies and how they can be deployed responsibly.
The Mental Health Imperative
The mental health crisis in Canada continues to escalate, affecting patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike. As we enter 2025, economic uncertainty and other factors will continue to influence the mental well-being of Canadians. According to my colleague David MacDonald, MBA, CAIP , who has analyzed over a decade of tracking data, the connection between financial well-being and mental health is undeniable.
Source: environics.ca/