With Niagara’s Population Rising, Only 65 Per Cent Of Residents In Region Have Access To A Family Doctor

From a Summary Report Prepared And Presented (via overheads) to Niagara Regional Council this March 20^th by Members of the Physician Recruitment Roundtable (links to more detailed report can be found below)

Posted March 21^st. 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – The following comes out of a November 26^th 2024 gathering of medical experts, post-secondary school representatives and political leaders in the Niagara region –

Purpose of November, 2024 Roundtable: Niagara’s first-ever roundtable to develop coordinated strategies for attracting and retaining family doctors.

Who Participated: 38 representatives from Niagara’s municipalities, healthcare system, post-secondary institutions, family doctors, and Mayors and CAOs of the area municipalities.

Goal: To create a unified, region-wide approach to address the growing family physician shortage and improve healthcare access for all residents.

The Current Situation – Addressing the Opportunity

• With Niagara’s population expanding, the demand for family doctors is rising.
• Currently, only 65% of Niagara residents have access to a family doctor—a gap that we are committed to closing.
• The physician shortage is affecting more than just health—it impacts social services such as mental health programs, EMS, and homelessness supports.
• This is a challenge, but it is also a significant opportunity to strengthen our healthcare system and improve services for all.

Roundtable Discussions – Insights

Physicians as Entrepreneurs:

• Physicians are both healthcare providers and business owners. Coordinated support is needed to help them set up practices.
• Increased Collaboration:
• Municipalities should work together to share office space and financial incentives, improving coordination across Niagara.

Supporting Families:

• Attracting physicians requires considering their families’ needs and promoting Niagara’s lifestyle benefits.

Expanding Partnerships:

• • Broader community partnerships (e.g., with financial institutions and law firms) will strengthen physician recruitment.

Capacity Challenges:

• The current Physician Recruitment Specialist is stretched thin, and additional resources are needed to meet growing demand.

Recommendations for Strengthening Recruitment Efforts Unified Physician Recruitment Strategy:

• A coordinated, region wide strategy involving local mayors, CAOs, and healthcare leaders.
• Expanding the Physician Recruitment and Retention office by hiring additional staff.
• Advocacy for Systemic Change: Increase Capacity: Comprehensive Incentive Strategy:
• Exploring financial and non-financial incentives, including partnerships for office space and housing.
• Coordinating advocacy efforts across municipalities to improve compensation models and reduce administrative burdens for physicians.

Next Steps for Enhancing Physician Recruitment Share Insights:

• The findings from the roundtable will be shared with all participants and stakeholders to ensure transparency and continued collaboration.

Work Plan Development: Council Engagement: Continued Collaboration:

• Staff will develop a comprehensive work plan to implement the proposed recommendations.
• The work plan will be presented to Council for input, with further opportunities for discussion and engagement.
• Ongoing efforts to collaborate with municipalities, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders will ensure a unified approach to addressing the physician shortage. 

Questions & Contact: Andrew Korchok Chief of Staff, Office of the Regional Chair Andrew.korchok@niagararegion.ca

For a full presentation of Roundtable Summary report, visit  Niagara Regional Council’s March 20th, 2025 and scroll down to Page  6 by clicking on – Council Agenda Package

Or possibly better still, click on https://pub-niagararegion.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=41983 for Roundtable report tabled at March 20th council meeting.

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