Canadians are increasingly concerned about waiting times to see a doctor, according to a new survey.

Twenty-eight percent of Canadians say long wait times are their top concern about the healthcare system today, five points higher than just over a year ago, according to a Research Co. poll released on August 20. Only the shortage of doctors and nurses is a slightly higher concern, at 31%.

Do official data confirm that perception?

Partly. The Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) published its annual wait time report in June and found a mixed picture: wait times for cataract surgery have largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, wait times for hip and knee replacements are approaching those levels but haven’t quite reached them yet, and wait times for most cancer surgeries remain longer than before, with delays in diagnostic imaging, such as MRIs and CT scans, still unresolved. In other words, people’s concerns are not unfounded, although they are not uniform: improvements are being made in some areas while they are stagnating in others.

So, do Canadians distrust the system?

Not exactly. Despite concerns about wait times, 70% said they trust the system would provide the care they need in a medical emergency. That confidence is higher among those over 55 (74%) than among those aged 18 to 34 (69%), a group that typically includes a large portion of the economically active Latino population. The survey, conducted among 1,001 adults from August 5 to 7 with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, also found a marked gender difference regarding whether the system should be more open to private providers: 43% of men support it, compared to 30% of women.

What should a newly arrived immigrant know about this?

For newcomers, understanding this discussion is important for a practical reason: you need to apply for a provincial health card as soon as you arrive. In Ontario, for example, the three-month waiting period that existed before the pandemic no longer exists, although eligibility still depends on immigration status; a work permit, for instance, needs to be for full-time employment with an Ontario employer for at least six months. Finding a family doctor, on the other hand, can take time, especially outside of major cities, so getting on the waiting list for a family doctor early, even if you don’t need one immediately, often saves months when you do.

Public healthcare remains free at the point of care; that hasn’t changed. What has changed, according to this survey, is how much patience it’s requiring from those who use it.

Editorial Staff Mauricio Navas Talero LJI Reporter