Local officials are hoping to access a slice of $218 million the province has earmarked to help ease Ontario’s burgeoning doctor shortage.
Announced last month, the money is to be used to create or expand 80 primary-care teams in underserviced areas. The goal is to connect some 300,000 people to a family doctor or primary care team.
However, there is still an applications process to undergo, according to Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team executive transformation lead Melissa Harrigan.
The first round of funding is by invitation only, Harrigan said, adding the partners within the local team have been invited to apply for funding to increase primary care attachment for anyone in the N0P area code – identified as an area with a high number of people without a primary-care provider.
“The Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team partners are excited for the opportunity to expand services and attach more rural residents to primary care in Chatham-Kent,” Harrigan said following the announcement.
Following the review of proposals, the government is expected to begin funding recipients in September.
