Canada’s Healthcare Spending Soars, but Access to Care Worsens, New Report Finds

Ottawa: Despite record levels of public spending on healthcare, access to medical services for ordinary Canadians is deteriorating sharply, according to a new report that has raised serious concerns about the sustainability of the country’s healthcare system.

Data released by the Angus Reid Institute reveal that nearly half of all Canadians are struggling either to find a family doctor or to secure a timely appointment with their existing physician. This decline in access comes even as national healthcare expenditure has surged dramatically—from approximately CAD 219 billion a decade ago to nearly CAD 400 billion today.

The findings indicate growing public frustration, with a majority of respondents stating that service quality has worsened despite the sharp rise in spending.

Family Doctor Shortage Deepens

The report highlights that one in eight Canadians has been searching for a family doctor for more than a year, or has abandoned the search altogether. While only 40 per cent of Canadians reported difficulty accessing primary care in 2015, that figure has climbed to 50 per cent by 2025.

Although the number of physicians has increased modestly, experts point to an ageing population and a rise in complex health conditions as key factors overwhelming the system. As a result, only about 15 per cent of Canadians are currently able to see a doctor within one or two days when medical attention is needed.

Specialist Care and Emergency Services Under Strain

Challenges are even more pronounced when it comes to specialist care. More than half of those requiring consultations with specialists report significant delays. Long waiting periods for surgeries and diagnostic tests have become increasingly common, often stretching into several months.

Alarmingly, 60 per cent of Canadians now say they lack confidence in receiving timely treatment even in emergency situations. Public dissatisfaction with how provincial governments are managing healthcare has also intensified, with more than 70 per cent of respondents expressing disapproval.

Regional Disparities Fuel Concern

The situation is particularly acute in provinces such as Saskatchewan and Quebec, where access to care remains among the poorest in the country. In Quebec alone, nearly one-third of residents do not have a regular family doctor.

Despite unprecedented levels of funding, the failure to translate higher spending into improved patient care has sparked widespread anxiety and growing political pressure, as Canadians increasingly question whether the healthcare system is delivering value commensurate with its cost.