More than 40 percent of Ontarians are overdue for colon cancer testing.

The most comprehensive report on primary care ever undertaken in the province also shows too many diabetics are suffering from serious complications and too many hospital patients are discharged with inadequate follow-up.

Primary care refers to a patient’s first point of contact in the health system, most notably, family doctors.

On colorectal cancer screening, the average Ontarian between the ages of 50 and 74 should be tested. Just over 41 percent of the population was overdue for screening in 2013, but the report’s authors say that is a little better than three years earlier.

And while most Ontarians have a primary care provider, only 44 percent are able to see the provider within 24 hours when they’re sick.

Meantime, a new study from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences reveals that screening for cancers, diabetes and heart disease remains low, despite efforts by the province to increase numbers.