A doctor wears a lab coat and stethoscope in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary, Friday, July 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Mc Intosh
A recent study reveals that female family doctors in Ontario spend more time with their patients compared to their male counterparts, but they often earn less money as a result.
The research in the Canadian Family Physician journal on Wednesday indicates that female family physicians dedicate 15 to 20 percent more time with patients than males in the field, based on self-reported surveys from over 1,050 doctors conducted between August and October 2023.
This translates to about four extra minutes per patient during the most common type of examination.
The findings highlight a gender pay gap – suggesting an estimated annual income difference of $45,500.
To bridge this gap, female family doctors would need to work roughly two additional hours each day, according to the authors.
Researchers from the Ontario Medical Association and Mc Master University investigated whether the fee-for-service payment system, where compensation is tied to the type and volume of services provided, disadvantages those who spend more time with their patients.
The president of the Ontario Medical Association, Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, commented that the existing system rewards quantity over quality and results in less time spent with patients.
“We shouldn’t be penalizing doctors for doing what patients in the system really need,” said Abdurrahman.
Dr. Kim Lazar, a family physician at North York General Hospital, mentioned she often schedules half-hour appointments instead of the typical 15 minutes to better address her patients’ complex needs.
“Obviously patients who have complex health needs and mental-health concerns, which leads to longer visits and more frequent visits, would prefer that type of care,” Lazar said.
This has been her experience as many of her patients deal with issues like eating disorders and depression. She noted that “We need to celebrate the fact that female family physicians do provide more patient-centric care and not penalize female family positions for this.”
A study back in 2016 found that patients seeing female physicians tend to have fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This analysis was based on data from Ontario.
“Additional time spent on services may be explained by gendered communication patterns,” says the study. “Research has noted that female physicians tend to hold longer discussions and adopt a more empathetic, partnership-building approach to care.”
The fee-for-service model is just one way family doctors can get paid in Ontario. A new compensation model will become available starting April; it allows family physicians to bill for both direct and indirect patient care as well as clinical administration time.
Abdurrahman stated these blended pay models could help eliminate structural disadvantages faced by those providing more patient-focused care.
“In this climate where misinformation is increasing at an alarming rate, you need to be able to have those kinds of relationships,” she added.
This report by The Canadian Press was first Jan. 14, 2026.
The Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
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