For generations, family doctors were at the centre of health care in Canada. They knew their patients and often their children and grandchildren and were a constant in people’s lives. That relationship has unravelled, with some four million Canadians reporting they don’t have a family doctor. And businesses have moved into fill the vacuum, launching projects to replace family doctors with online service and corporate clinics. In this six-part series, Tyee reporter Andrew MacLeod digs into what this means for the health of Canadians — and of our medicare system.
In This Series
Profits Before Patients? The Corporate Push into BC’s Primary Care System
Big business sees opportunity in replacing the family doctor with corporate clinics or virtual care. Advocates see peril. First in a series.
Why Are Corporations Moving into Health Care? Doctors Say It’s the System’s Fault
But MDs are regulated and governed by an ethical code. Big Business isn’t, advocates warn.
What Happens When Health Care Becomes a Stock Market Play?
Well Health is a new kind of health-care company in Canada. But some see big risks. Part of a series.
Corporations Want Your Health Records. Who’s Keeping Them Safe?
Big Business has moved into managing patients’ health files, but privacy laws haven’t kept pace, advocates say. Part of a series.
How BC Can Fix Primary Health Care, With or Without Corporations
Health Minister Adrian Dix says business can play a role in delivering health services. Not everyone agrees. Part of a series.
A Family Doctor’s Prescription for Fixing Primary Care
BC College of Family Physicians’ president Jeanette Boyd on how to improve care and patient outcomes without the risks of corporate medicine.