Most Canadians either know personally or are aware that getting an appointment with a family doctor can be difficult. Across the country, it’s estimated that 6.5 million people do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner they see regularly.

For women who live on the margins — those experiencing poverty, racism, trauma, care-giving stress or unstable housing — the barriers to care are even greater.

From adolescence through to mid-life, such women often put their own health needs last. Even if they have a family doctor, the structural realities of care — uneven geographical access, long waits, limited appointment slots and rigid scheduling systems — are difficult for most people to navigate. For women with limited resources of income, time and agency, the barriers to access are, too often, insurmountable.

Life satisfaction is lower among women in Canada than men, and serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer or reproductive health problems are often diagnosed late. For many women, cultural norms may make it difficult to raise issues such as sexual health, contraception or depression within a 15-minute medical visit, especially if they lack language or gender concordance with their family doctor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that primary care can deliver more than 90 per cent of essential health services, but only if people can access it. For women who live on the margins, gaining........

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