Canadians are having a crisis of confidence with respect to their healthcare system
THE CURRENT
Canadians are clearly having a crisis of confidence with respect to their healthcare system. Barely half (54%) give positive ratings to “the quality of healthcare that you and your family have access to in your country.” Disturbingly, this is down a full 18 percentage points since 2020. And trust in the system stands at 53% down a full 11 percentage points since 2020.
While Canadians like to brag about their healthcare system, especially compared to the US, the international ratings suggest that this is not warranted. Canada ranks 16th of the 29 countries in positive ratings of their healthcare system (down from ranking 5th in 2020). Indeed, Canadians trail Americans in their ratings of their system by a full 12 percentage points (66% positive vs. 54% in Canada).
The deterioration in assessments of the system in Canada has happened across all demographics and regions. But Atlantic Canada emerges as the most problematic, Quebec a bit less so. This is also true for women, lower education and lower income.
THE FUTURE
Looking to the future, Canadians increasingly expect the healthcare system to deteriorate even further. Twice as many think the system will get worse (32%) than improve (16%) (for a net of -16). This is a deterioration from 2020 (net of -5).
Moving forward, human resources (staffing) is the biggest and growing challenge facing the system according to Canadians, followed by wait times, an aging population and bureaucracy. Interestingly, lack of investment or cost to access are not high on the list.
The bottom-line is that Canada is likely at a watershed moment regarding its healthcare system. Many among the public have lost faith in the system. All kinds of groups are entering the debate and the normal provinces versus the federal government rifts remain. In responding to their concerns, Canadians will need to be prepared for and open to some significant changes to the system. It is not about simply throwing more money into the pot.
