Ontario’s healthcare system, long considered a pillar of public service, is undergoing dramatic changes under Premier Doug Ford’s leadership. Since 2018, the Ford government has steadily expanded private-sector involvement in delivering medical services. While critics warn of long-term damage to universal healthcare, others argue privatization could improve access and efficiency.
Expansion of Private Healthcare Services
In January 2023, Premier Ford announced the opening of new private, for-profit day hospitals in three Ontario cities. His plan includes shifting up to 50% of public hospital surgeries into the private system—a significant redirection of public healthcare delivery.
Then, on June 27, 2025, the government unveiled a $155 million investment over two years to create 57 new private centers for MRI, CT scans, and gastrointestinal endoscopy services. These facilities are expected to serve 800,000+ patients and reduce wait times for diagnostics and procedures.
A Pattern of Privatization
Critics, including the Ontario Health Coalition, argue this strategy follows a pattern: underfund public services, then shift services to private operators. Privatization ramped up during the COVID-19 pandemic, with funding redirected to private eye surgery clinics in 2021, and recent announcements now shifting more orthopedic surgeries to private centers.
Potential Pros of Healthcare Privatization
While concerns persist, advocates for partial privatization point to some possible benefits:
- Reduced Wait Times: By offloading procedures like diagnostics and minor surgeries to private clinics, patients may receive care faster, helping ease hospital backlogs.
- Increased Choice: Patients may have more options in how and where they receive services, potentially improving satisfaction.
- Operational Efficiency: Private clinics are often incentivized to be lean and efficient, which may lead to faster service delivery.
- Public System Relief: Freeing up capacity in public hospitals allows them to focus on more complex or emergency cases.
- Innovation and Investment: Private-sector involvement can attract innovation, capital investment, and advanced technologies.
These points highlight why some policy experts suggest a blended model of public and private healthcare delivery may help Ontario modernize its system—if regulated effectively.
Mounting Criticisms
Still, not everyone agrees that privatization is the right path forward. Key concerns include:
- Quality of Care: Studies suggest outcomes in private, for-profit hospitals may be poorer than in public ones.
- Equity and Access: Some fear privatization creates a two-tier system, where those with means get faster care.
- Funding Disparity: Public ORs remain closed evenings/weekends, while private clinics receive expanded funding.
- Ethical Concerns: Former Health Minister Christine Elliott’s lobbying for a for-profit hospital post-office raises conflict of interest concerns.
- Data Privacy: A medical data breach in 2024 has amplified worries about privatized data security.
Moreover, insurance companies like Sunlife, Manulife, and Green Shield are increasingly influencing patient-provider relationships, potentially limiting choice or access depending on coverage terms.
A Healthcare System in Crisis
These shifts come amid an escalating healthcare crisis. According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, 2.5 million Ontarians lacked a family doctor in mid-2024—projected to exceed 4 million by 2026. Critics argue that now is the time to invest in rebuilding the public system, not dividing it.
Organizations like the Ontario Nurses’ Association have urged the province to invest in public health infrastructure, arguing that public hospitals—not private interests—should remain the backbone of Ontario’s care system.
What This Means for Families
As Ontario’s healthcare landscape changes, it’s essential to stay informed and advocate for accessible, high-quality care. If you’re exploring home care services or concerned about the future of universal care, our team at Affinity Health can help.
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