High trust in Canada’s healthcare system, but Canadians are concerned that the quality may worsen over time
Toronto, ON, October 25, 2020 — A recent Ipsos global health study tracked public perceptions of the biggest health challenges people face today and how well-equipped their countries’ healthcare systems are to tackle them. Amid 30 countries that were surveyed using Ipsos’ Global Health Service Monitor 2021, COVID-19 remains the biggest health challenge globally; 70% (-2 percentage points) of Canadians see COVID-19 as the biggest health threat, followed by mental health (43%, +1) and cancer (26%, -9).
Quality of healthcare – now and in the future
While 64% of Canadians rate the quality of Canada’s healthcare system as good or very good (-8), its Northern American counterpart sees a slightly more positive sentiment in the U.S. at 67%. Sweden rated the quality of their healthcare system on par with Canada’s (64%), while Singapore, Switzerland and Australia top the list of 30 countries studied (79%, 78% and 78% respectively). Hungary and Poland have the most negative outlook towards their country’s healthcare system, with 46% and 41% respectively seeing it as poor or very poor.
Canada ranks 10th out of the 30 countries surveyed to trust in the healthcare system to provide the best treatment (59%), slightly above the global average (51%). Switzerland (74%), Singapore (73%) and Saudi Arabia (71%) rank in the top three, where Poland (25%), Russia (18%) and Hungary (11%) trust their healthcare system the least.
Canadians say their healthcare system is good, but may worsen over time
Despite the majority of Canadians having a positive attitude towards their healthcare system, 56% say it will stay the same, while 27% believe that it will deteriorate in the future. The decline in perceived quality of healthcare has decreased most since 2020 in Canada (-8), following Great Britain (-6), Hungary (-5), Malaysia (-4) and the US (-4). Meanwhile, it has increased in Argentina (+9), Spain (+8), Russia (+7) and Belgium (+6). While Canada is among the top four of 30 countries surveyed that think their healthcare system is in decline, we see similar if not stronger negative attitudes in Hungary (34%), Great Britain (32%) and France (30%).
Most countries see a strain on their healthcare system, with Canada among the top four
A majority worldwide (56%) say that their country’s healthcare system is overstretched, including 74% of Canadians who strongly agree or tend to agree, placing them fourth among the 30 countries surveyed. Not only does Canada feature among the top ones on this list, but has also recorded the largest increase in agreement in those who believe “the healthcare system in my country is overstretched”. In comparison to last year, more Canadians now recognize the strain on the healthcare services with a 10 percentage point increase over the last year (74% 2021, +10 points since 2020), the highest one-year increase in agreement recorded over the 30 countries studied.
Lack of staff among top healthcare challenge for Canadians
The single healthcare system challenge to Canadians is not having enough staff (61%, +7 percentage points since 2020), compared to the global average at 39%. Canada ranks fourth (out of 30 countries) in terms of those that see not enough staff as one of the biggest issues in healthcare; Sweden ranked first (71%), followed by the Netherlands (66%) and France (63%).
The second biggest challenge for Canadians is access to treatment/long waiting times (48%, +1). Sixty-five percent (+4 percentage points since 2020) of Canadians agree that waiting times to get an appointment with their doctors are too long, with the global average of 60%. This year, fewer Canadians agree that “it is easy to get an appointment with doctors in their local area” (42%, -4 percentage points since 2020) and about one-third explicitly disagree, 4 percentage points higher than last year.
Healthcare affordability
While capacity challenges are highlighted, few Canadians believe that the cost of accessing treatment is a challenge to the country’s healthcare system, having the second-lowest percentage (10%, -1), tied with Spain (10%) and followed by Great Britain (9%). In comparison, Chile, the U.S. and Singapore saw the cost of accessing treatment as one of the bigger challenges, sitting at 58%, 52% and 49%, respectively.
In fact, Canada and Great Britain rank among the top three countries of the 30 surveyed that think that many people can afford decent healthcare (both at 37%); Sweden tops the list with the majority sharing the sentiment (52%). Countries that believe that most people in their country cannot afford good healthcare are Brazil (90%), South Africa (83%) and Colombia (83%).
Canada’s healthcare system provides equal standards for all
The majority of Canadians (53%) strongly agree or tend to agree that Canada’s healthcare system provides the same standard of care to everyone (-1), which is higher than the global average at 39%. Saudi Arabia has the most optimistic outlook towards healthcare equality (65%), followed by Spain (61%), Malaysia (59%) and Singapore (59%). Hungary (14%) and Chile (16%) have the most adverse attitudes towards their country’s healthcare equality.
About the Study
These are the results of a 30-market survey conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform. Ipsos interviewed a total of 21,513 adults aged 18-74 in the United States, Canada, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, and Turkey, aged 21-74 in Singapore, and 16-74 in 24 other markets between Friday, August 20 and Friday, September 3, 2021.
The sample consists of approximately 1,000 individuals in each of Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, mainland China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the U.S., and 500 individuals in each of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.
The samples in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.S. can be taken as representative of their general adult population under the age of 75.
The samples in Brazil, mainland China, Chile, Colombia, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Turkey are more urban, more educated, and/or more affluent than the general population. The survey results for these countries should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of their population.
The data is weighted so that each country’s sample composition best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the most recent census data.
The ‘Global Country Average’ reflects the average result for all the countries and markets where the survey was conducted. It has not been adjusted to the population size of each country or market and is not intended to suggest a total result.
Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don't know” or not stated responses.
The precision of Ipsos online polls is calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 5.0 percentage points. For more information on Ipsos' use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.
The publication of these findings abides by local rules and regulations.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Sanyam Sethi
Director, Ipsos Public Affairs
[email protected]
Lisa Byers
Account Manager, Ipsos Public Affairs
[email protected]
About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.
Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).
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