Overview

As of September 25, 2023, the Independent Health Facilities Program became officially known as the Integrated Community Health Services Centres (ICHSC) Program. The ICHSC Program oversees the licensing of community surgical and diagnostic centres, formerly known as Independent Health Facilities. The Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 (ICHSCA) and its regulations provides the licensing and quality assurance framework for the sector.

The centres are licensed under the ICHSCA to perform OHIP insured, low-acuity surgeries and diagnostic procedures in the community including:

  • cataract and other eye surgeries
  • plastic surgeries (OHIP insured)
  • minimally invasive gynecological surgery
  • abortion
  • birth centres
  • dialysis
  • routine diagnostic imaging
  • MRI/CT and PET scans
  • nuclear medicine
  • pulmonary function studies
  • sleep studies

Contact

You can contact the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Program by:

  • mail:
    Ministry of Health
    Health Insurance Branch
    Integrated Community Health Services Centres Program
    49 Place d’Armes, 5th Floor
    Kingston ON K7L 5J3
  • phone: 613-548-6637
  • fax: 613-548-6734
  • email: ICHSC@ontario.ca

INFOBulletins

For the latest information on what's new, please visit our INFOBulletins webpages.

Becoming a community surgical and diagnostic centre

New centres are created through a Calls for Applications process, under the provisions of the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 (ICHSCA). Future Calls for Applications will be publicly communicated on this webpage.

Once a call is issued, all details including eligibility requirements will be listed on this webpage and these details may change based on the type of services listed in the call.

Anyone interested in participating in a future Call for Applications can read through some of the requirements in the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023, Section 5.