Canadians With a Regular Health Provider
Higher percentages are desirable.
Population age 18 and older who reported that they have a regular health care provider divided by the total population age 18 and older
Population estimates are based on weighted survey responses to reflect the total population.
Historical results reported in Your Health System for 2015 to 2020 are based on the population age 12 and older.
Population age 18 and older (based on weighted survey responses)
Population age 18 and older who reported that they have a regular health care provider (based on weighted survey respondents)
Methodology
Name
Canadians With a Regular Health Provider
Short/Other Names
Canadians With a Regular Health Provider | Previously reported in Your Health System as Has a Regular Health Care Provider
Description
The percentage of Canadians who report having access to a regular health provider
A regular health provider is a health professional you consult regularly for preventive care, health advice and chronic disease management. Regular health providers are the main access point to a health system, referring individuals to specialist care and other health services while ensuring continuity of care. A regular health provider could be a family doctor or general practitioner, medical specialist, nurse practitioner or other health professional.
Starting with 2025 reporting, a regular health provider also includes access to a health team.
Rationale
Access to a regular health provider is important for disease prevention and management. Regular, easily accessible contact with a health care provider builds the relationship and understanding that lead to effective and personalized care. Ensuring equitable access to a regular health provider and high-quality primary care is critical for achieving optimal health outcomes for all Canadians and for fostering a sustainable health care system.
Access to regular health providers in Canada is collectively influenced by availability of health providers, system capacity, geographic location, age and demographics, economic status, transportation and infrastructure, health literacy and education, and cultural and language barriers.
Interpretation
Higher percentages are desirable.
HSP Framework Dimension
Health system outputs: Access to comprehensive, high-quality health services
Areas of Need
Getting Better
Targets/Benchmarks
Not applicable
Available Data Years
to (calendar years)
Geographic Coverage
- All provinces/territories except Quebec
Reporting Level/Disaggregation
- National
- Province/Territory
This indicator is presented by age, sex, income and urban versus rural/remote area.
Regional results were reported for 2015 to 2020 in Your Health System.
Indicator Results
Update Frequency
Every year
Latest Results Update Date
Updates
Not applicable
Description
Population age 18 and older who reported that they have a regular health care provider divided by the total population age 18 and older
Population estimates are based on weighted survey responses to reflect the total population.
Historical results reported in Your Health System for 2015 to 2020 are based on the population age 12 and older.
Type of Measurement
Percentage or proportion - Percentage
Denominator
Description:
Population age 18 and older (based on weighted survey responses)
Exclusions:
Non-response categories (refusal, don't know and not stated) are excluded.
Numerator
Description:
Population age 18 and older who reported that they have a regular health care provider (based on weighted survey respondents)
Inclusions:
Respondents who indicated that they have a
- Family doctor or general practitioner
- Medical specialist (e.g., cardiologist, pediatrician, oncologist)
- Nurse practitioner
- Other (e.g., chiropractor, psychologist)
Exclusions:
Not applicable
Method of Adjustment
Not applicable
Adjustment Applied
None
Covariates used in risk adjustment:
Not applicable
Geographic Assignment
Place of residence
Data Sources
- CCHS, Statistics Canada
Caveats and Limitations
Population
Data for the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is collected yearly from a sample of approximately 65,000 respondents.
The CCHS covers the population age 18 and older living in the 10 provinces and 3 territories. Excluded from the survey’s coverage are
- Persons living on reserves and in other Indigenous settlements in the provinces
- Full-time members of the Canadian Forces
- The institutionalized population
- Persons living in 2 Quebec health regions: Nunavik Region and Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James Region
- Altogether, these exclusions represent less than 3% of the Canadian population age 18 and older.
Age
Prior to the 2023 CCHS, data was collected on the population age 12 and older. Starting in 2023, the CCHS collects data only for those age 18 and older.
Starting with 2025 reporting, data will be available for the population age 12 and older, based on data collected from the CCHS and the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY).
Geography
For each of the 3 territories, data from a 2-year cycle is needed to produce estimates of good quality. The most recent good-quality territorial data available is based on data collection from CCHS 2022.
Comparison with previous years
CCHS underwent a major redesign in 2022: the content of the survey was updated and major changes were made to collection and sampling approaches, including the transition to an electronic questionnaire for direct self-reporting by selected respondents. As a result, caution should be taken when comparing data from previous cycles.
Trending Issues
The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the data collection operations for the 2020 CCHS. Users are advised to use the 2020 CCHS data with caution when comparing with other CCHS years.
References
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Health workforce in Canada: Overview. Accessed May 31, 2024.
Canadian Institute for Health Information. How Canada Compares: Results From the Commonwealth Fund’s 2020 International Health Policy Survey of the General Population in 11 Countries. 2021.
Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey — Annual Component (CCHS)External link. Accessed May 10, 2024.
Statistics Canada. Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY)External link. Accessed May 10, 2024.
Statistics Canada. Health characteristics, annual estimatesExternal link. Accessed May 10, 2024.
Statistics Canada. Health characteristics, two-year period estimatesExternal link. Accessed May 10, 2024.
Statistics Canada. Primary health care providers, 2019External link. Accessed May 10, 2024.
How to cite:
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Canadians With a Regular Health Provider . Accessed April 29, 2025.
If you would like CIHI information in a different format, visit our Accessibility page.
Comments
This indicator is part of a set of common indicators to measure progress on the priority areas to improve health care announced by federal, provincial and territorial governments in 2023. Additional information is available on the Shared Health Priorities web page.
Historical regional results
Historical indicator results by region are available in Your Health System: In BriefExternal link.
Data for Ontario’s local health integration networks and British Columbia’s regional health authorities was obtained through custom tabulation requests and is reproduced and distributed on an “as is” basis with the permission of Statistics Canada.
Source: Statistics Canada. Selected CCHS Indicators for Ontario by Local Health Integration Network and British Columbia Regional Health Authority, 2017–2018. January 2020.