As Canadians, we loved to brag about our efficient and universal health care system that was the envy of the world. But the system is broken, and nearly 5 million Canadians are now without a family doctor. When we’re sick, we either clog up the country’s emergency rooms or go to walk-in clinics that don’t know our medical histories and can offer little continuity of care.

The situation is already critical, and is about to get much worse – with a huge bulge of baby boom doctors about to retire, and younger doctors disinclined to sacrifice personal lives to their careers. How did we get here? And how do we get back to the level of primary health care that we believe is our right as Canadian citizens? Desperately Seeking Doctors sets out on a cross-country journey, talking to ordinary Canadians, doctors, and health care experts to investigate the present crisis, its causes and possible solutions.

Directed by Sharon Bartlett and Maria LeRose, written by Helen Slinger, and produced by Sharon Bartlett, Maria LeRose and Sue Ridout for CBC’s Doc Zone.