Canadian healthcare is no longer the envy of the world

By Mary Apurong

2025-10-31

Image Credit: CDC on Unsplash

Once upon a time, Canada’s healthcare system was widely considered a model for the rest of the world, especially in countries where access to medical care was often tied to your job or your wealth. The idea of getting the medical attention you needed, from a simple check-up to a major surgery, without worrying about a huge bill felt like a promise of fairness and equality.

But today, the story has changed quite a bit. Many people across the country are seeing serious cracks in that once-strong foundation. Canadians are increasingly running into problems that make getting basic or complex care much harder, leading to frustration and, sometimes, serious consequences.

Lack of access to a family doctor

A large and increasing number of people across Canada do not have a regular family doctor, creating a significant gap in primary care. Having a consistent primary care provider is crucial because they are the main person who helps manage your overall health, offers preventative advice, and refers you to specialists when necessary.

Without this important connection, many people must rely on crowded walk-in clinics or even hospital emergency rooms for basic care, which is not the right place for non-urgent issues. This overuse of emergency rooms adds more stress and longer waits for people who actually need urgent, life-saving help.

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