diff --git a/conda/plugins/subcommands/doctor/cli.py b/conda/plugins/subcommands/doctor/cli.py
index 37f4392d9d6..903e7608b34 100644
--- a/conda/plugins/subcommands/doctor/cli.py
+++ b/conda/plugins/subcommands/doctor/cli.py
@@ -4,10 +4,9 @@
 
 import argparse
 
-from ....base.context import context, locate_prefix_by_name
-from ....cli.common import validate_prefix
+from ....base.context import context
 from ....cli.conda_argparse import add_parser_prefix
-from ....exceptions import CondaEnvException
+from ....deprecations import deprecated
 from ... import CondaSubcommand, hookimpl
 
 
@@ -28,25 +27,12 @@ def get_parsed_args(argv: list[str]) -> argparse.Namespace:
     return args
 
 
+@deprecated(
+    "24.3", "24.9", addendum="Use `conda.base.context.context.target_prefix` instead."
+)
 def get_prefix(args: argparse.Namespace) -> str:
-    """
-    Determine the correct prefix to use provided the CLI arguments and the context object.
-
-    When not specified via CLI options, the default is the currently active prefix
-    """
-    if args.name:
-        return locate_prefix_by_name(args.name)
-
-    if args.prefix:
-        return validate_prefix(args.prefix)
-
-    if context.active_prefix:
-        return context.active_prefix
-
-    raise CondaEnvException(
-        "No environment specified. Activate an environment or specify the "
-        "environment via `--name` or `--prefix`."
-    )
+    context.__init__(argparse_args=args)
+    return context.target_prefix
 
 
 def execute(argv: list[str]) -> None:
@@ -54,8 +40,8 @@ def execute(argv: list[str]) -> None:
     from .health_checks import display_health_checks
 
     args = get_parsed_args(argv)
-    prefix = get_prefix(args)
-    display_health_checks(prefix, verbose=args.verbose)
+    context.__init__(argparse_args=args)
+    display_health_checks(context.target_prefix, verbose=args.verbose)
 
 
 @hookimpl
diff --git a/news/12725-deprecate-get_prefix b/news/12725-deprecate-get_prefix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..871ef3c7f31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/12725-deprecate-get_prefix
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* Mark `conda.plugins.subcommands.doctor.cli.get_prefix` as pending deprecation. Use `conda.base.context.context.target_prefix` instead. (#12725)
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>
diff --git a/tests/plugins/subcommands/doctor/test_cli.py b/tests/plugins/subcommands/doctor/test_cli.py
index 2482c39c787..cfdde38f9df 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/subcommands/doctor/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/plugins/subcommands/doctor/test_cli.py
@@ -57,36 +57,3 @@ def test_conda_doctor_with_test_environment():
         assert MISSING_FILES_SUCCESS_MESSAGE in out
         assert not err  # no error message
         assert not code  # successful exit code
-
-
-def test_get_prefix_name():
-    assert get_prefix(Namespace(name="base", prefix=None)) == context.root_prefix
-
-
-def test_get_prefix_bad_name():
-    with pytest.raises(EnvironmentNameNotFound):
-        get_prefix(Namespace(name="invalid", prefix=None))
-
-
-def test_get_prefix_prefix():
-    with make_temp_env() as prefix:
-        assert get_prefix(Namespace(name=None, prefix=prefix)) == prefix
-
-
-def test_get_prefix_bad_prefix(tmp_path: Path):
-    with pytest.raises(DirectoryNotACondaEnvironmentError):
-        assert get_prefix(Namespace(name=None, prefix=tmp_path))
-
-
-def test_get_prefix_active():
-    with make_temp_env() as prefix, env_vars(
-        {"CONDA_PREFIX": prefix},
-        stack_callback=conda_tests_ctxt_mgmt_def_pol,
-    ):
-        assert get_prefix(Namespace(name=None, prefix=None)) == prefix
-
-
-def test_get_prefix_not_active(monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch):
-    monkeypatch.delenv("CONDA_PREFIX")
-    with pytest.raises(CondaEnvException):
-        get_prefix(Namespace(name=None, prefix=None))