by Jasmine Amini

Graphic design by Josip Petrusa  

Over 6 million Canadians do not have a family physician.¹ That’s nearly 1/6 of us without access to primary care. Beyond the personal impacts of not having a trusted health professional to turn to in times of need, it’s safe to say that insufficient primary care access has wreaked havoc on the Canadian health care system. From delayed diagnosis to worsening chronic conditions to ballooning emergency room wait times, every one of us is affected by our crumbling primary care system. How did we get here? More importantly, how do we recover, both literally and metaphorically?

Authored by former federal Minister of Health and primary care physician Jane Philpott, Health for All: A Doctor’s Prescription for a Healthier Canada² explores the antecedents underpinning the ongoing collapse of Canada’s primary care system. Moreover, the author outlines a multi-faceted plan to address shortcomings in current health policy and practice, tying in her experiences as a clinician and policymaker. In just under 300 pages, Philpott explores the clinical, spiritual, social, and political factors that, she argues, will be necessary to facilitate systemic change.

Philpott advocates for the widespread introduction of “primary care homes,” (PCHs) which are comprehensive health hubs, equipped with “doctors, nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, and administrators, plus others according to the specific community needs” (pg. 17). Some may also include extended supports like physiotherapists, social workers, and dieticians, as well as additional health and social services, such as prenatal seminars and tax clinics, with the goal to serve as a “one-stop shop” for all things health. Critically, instead of the onus of clinical services resting solely on physicians, it would be apportioned among allied health professionals, which would ensure access to primary care for all Canadians when they need it. 

Undoubtedly, this vision necessitates more than just funding to be realized. It requires a comprehensive framework that appreciates the various cultural and political factors that will ultimately govern its implementation. Philpott emphasizes the importance of unity in the goal of providing primary care access to all Canadians. From citizens rallying for change to leaders advocating for partnerships between stakeholders at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, everyone has a role to play. These plans cannot come to fruition, the author stresses, without recognizing the need for systems of care that promote hope, belonging, meaning, and purpose. Although she highlights the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum framework, which provides tangible steps to support individual wellbeing, this section focuses on her personal experiences and religious beliefs, making it feel somewhat vague and conceptually detached from the rest of the book. Finally, Philpott turns her attention to various social and political issues related to health care access more broadly, including the legacy of residential schools on health policy and strategies to address Canada’s opioid use epidemic. 

Health for All is an ambitious primer to the intricacies of the Canadian primary care system that straddles the line between memoir and policy paper. Philpott’s personal experiences as a primary care physician and former health minister offer engaging insights into how current shortcomings in health care policy and access impact patients. However, these experiences, at times, fail to comment on or advance the vision that she has described to universalize primary care access. As such, the book’s overall “goal” is somewhat muddled. Regardless of these drawbacks in structure, Health for All is an accessible, entertaining introductory text that empowers readers to advocate for our primary care system, a necessary step to enacting change. 

References

1. OurCare – National survey data [Internet]. [cited 2025 Oct 22]. Available from: https://data.ourcare.ca/all-questions

2. Philpott J. Health for All: A Doctor’s Prescription for a Healthier Canada. McClelland & Stewart; 2024. 297 p.