Nearly four years after Dr. Andrew Boozary conceived the idea of a mobile clinic, a pilot project aimed at assisting Toronto's underserved communities is now operational. This initiative, launched last month, is designed to enhance access to primary care for vulnerable populations throughout the city.
The University Health Network (UHN) has partnered with the Toronto Public Library (TPL) to establish mobile clinics at various library branches across Toronto. The primary objective of these clinics is to provide essential medical services to individuals who typically encounter barriers to healthcare access.
The mobile clinic is staffed by a team that includes a Registered Nurse, a nurse practitioner, and a community health worker. Together, they offer many of the same services that would be available through a General Practitioner or family doctor. Dr. Boozary, who serves as the executive director of UHN’s Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine, stated that the clinic has already engaged with dozens of patients. He noted, “People are surprised by the scale and scope of services that are in what ostensibly looks like a regular, large van.”
One of the fundamental principles of the mobile clinic is to ensure that patients face minimal barriers to receiving care. Individuals seeking services do not need to present any form of identification or possess an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card. Staff members are also trained to communicate effectively with those who might be hesitant to seek healthcare due to feelings of mistrust or safety concerns.
According to Dr. Boozary, there are hundreds of thousands of people across Ontario who currently lack access to primary healthcare. He emphasized that while the mobile clinic is "just one vehicle and not a silver bullet for all of the primary care issues across the system," it serves as an important acknowledgment that healthcare delivery must evolve to meet the diverse needs of the population.
At present, there are two operational vans, each with a cost of approximately $200,000, funded through provincial resources and philanthropy. CityNews was granted permission to observe the mobile clinic as it set up its services at TPL’s Sanderson branch, located near Bathurst and Dundas Streets. Aly Velji, the senior manager of adult services at TPL, highlighted that having healthcare services available at the library represents a valuable opportunity to connect individuals with necessary medical care and other services available throughout the city.
As of now, the Sanderson branch is the only location served by the mobile clinic, which operates four days a week—one day at the library and three days at Toronto Community Housing sites. However, plans to expand the program are already in motion. Velji noted that TPL is in the process of identifying additional branches that could significantly benefit from having dedicated healthcare access for clients, particularly for specific populations such as refugee newcomers, older adults, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Dr. Boozary expressed a desire for the mobile clinic initiative to grow and evolve, indicating that there are ongoing discussions about exploring other opportunities and locations to build upon this essential service. For the time being, the mobile clinic can be found at the Sanderson branch every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
