The shortage of family doctors in Canada left many people without a primary care provider who are in desperate need of one. 

To find a family doctor who may be accepting new patients near you, you can:

• Ask family and friends to introduce you to a family doctor who may be accepting new patients.
• Ask walk-in clinic providers if they can take you on as a patient.
• Visit your local hospitals as many of them have primary care divisions.
• Utilize our Family Doctor directory to find a family doctor near you or in a specified city.

We gathered many resources, broken down by province, that you can utilize to help you find a family doctor or a nurse practitioner as your primary care provider.

Canada Nationwide

Call the 8-1-1 toll-free number to speak to a health service navigator, who can help you find health services or connect you directly with various healthcare providers. This service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Call 7-1-1 if you are hearing impaired.

8-1-1 is for non-emergency situations. If you are experiencing any medical emergencies call 9-1-1 or visit your local emergency room.

British Columbia

• Register with the Health Connect Registry. You will be connected with a nurse practitioner or a family doctor.
• Many communities offer services delivered through their local Divisions of Family Practice that may connect you with a family doctor.
• If you visit Walk-in clinics, you can ask the doctors if they are willing to take you on as a patient.
• Urgent and Primary Care Centres
• The Pathways Medial Care Directory may help to connect you with a family doctor in your area.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Alberta

• Call Health Link Alberta at 1-866-408-5465.
• The Alberta College of Family Physicians' Finding a Family Doctor is a good resource to have.
• The Alberta Find a Doctor page may have additional resources to help you find a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Saskatchewan

• The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan Find a Doctor page.
• The Saskatchewan Health Authority Primary Health Care facility search.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Manitoba

• Look into the Family Doctor Finder to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner. They have an online registration form as well.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Ontario

• Register with Health Care Connect, a nurse may help to connect you to family doctors or nurse practitioners.
• Health811, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, may provide fast, free, health advice or find health services.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.
• The Find a doctor or nurse practitioner page from the Ontario Ministry of Health may also be helpful.

Quebec

• Register on the waitlist by using the Quebec Family Doctor Finder (GAMF) to find a family doctor who is accepting new patients.
  • Make sure to keep your contact information up-to-date and report any health changes.
• This page provides additional information on how to register with a family doctor.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians of Quebec physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

New Brunswick

• NB Health Link can provide access to healthcare while waiting for a primary health provider. If you are registered with NB Health Link, you can make an appointment by:
  • Phone at 1-833-354-2300 from Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.
  • Or, visit NB Health Link at any time.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Prince Edward Island

• Join the Patient Registry to be on the waitlist to find a family doctor or a nurse practitioner. You will be contacted when a family doctor or nurse practitioner becomes available and is accepting new patients in your area.
  • You can also call the toll-free number at 1-855-563-2101.
  • Visit in person
    
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Nova Scotia

• Visit the Need a Family Practice Registry for assistance in finding a primary care provider.
  • After two weeks of joining the registry, you can sign up for VirtualCareNS (VCNS) to have free online visits with a primary care provider.
  • Primary Care Clinics provides short-term in-person primary care for people on the Need a Family Practice Registry.
• After Hour Clinics are available for people both with and without a family doctor. 
• Mobile Primary Care Clinics are held by Nova Scotia Health.
• Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinics are located in areas with the highest number of people in need of a family doctor. These clinics are run by the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS) in partnership with the Government of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Health.
• Urgent Treatment Centres provide non-emergency care.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Register at Patient Connect NFL online or call 1-833-913-4679.
• Mental Health and Addiction services.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Yukon

• Call (867) 393-6980 for information regarding clinics that are currently accepting new patients.
• Apply at Find a primary care provider.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the Yukon Medical Council directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Northwest Territories

• List of Hospitals and Health Centres.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.

Nunavut

• The province's Department of Health provides contact information for many Community Health Centres.
• RateMDs Family Doctor directory.
• RateMDs Nurse Practitioner directory.
• You can search for family doctors in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador physician directory. You may need to contact the providers directly to see if they are accepting new patients.