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Peterborough City Council has approved making its physician recruitment pilot program a permanent initiative starting in 2026. The move aims to address the growing shortage of family doctors in the community, a key priority in the City’s Strategic Plan.
The current pilot has already helped bring six new Family Health Organization doctors to Peterborough, keeping about 8,000 patients from losing access to care. Additionally, one independent physician from the UK has joined, rostered with over 2,200 patients, and three doctors with the Community Health Centre are preparing to serve vulnerable populations once their clinic expansion is complete.
A city report warns that more than 13,000 patients risk becoming unattached if retiring physicians are not replaced. By establishing a permanent in-house recruitment program, Peterborough aims to sustain and coordinate efforts with partners such as the Peterborough Ontario Health Team and local hospitals.
The ongoing strategy will include financial incentives for physicians, improvements to the “Whole of Village” program, and expanded international recruitment through partnerships like the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance. Council says these steps are essential to supporting community health and local economic growth.
