By the Numbers: The state of Canadian health care

Toronto – July 28, 2015 – A new poll reveals that nearly two out of three Canadians believe that our current health care system is falling behind. The study also reported that 82%  of Canadians expect to use the health care system more than ever in the next five to ten years, which suggests that the Harper Conservatives' plan to cut $36 billion in health care funding over the next ten years could not be coming at a worse time. Below are some of the key findings from the Ipsos health care poll commissioned by HealthCareCAN.

$36 Billion

The amount of funding that Stephen Harper's Conservative Government is cutting from the Canadian health care system over the next ten years.

4.4 million

The amount of Canadians who do not have a family physician.

64%

Percentage of Canadians who are worried that our current health care system is falling behind.

70%

Percentage of Canadians who are worried that they may fall through the cracks if they cannot rely on our health care system when they need to use it.

75%

Despite the above findings, three in four Canadians believe that our health care system is among the best in the developed world.

90%

A majority of those polled believe that if the health care system used resources more efficiently, it would provide better care to patients.  

91%

Percentage of Canadians who believe that more needs to be done to improve the quality and accessibility of mental health care services.

90%

Percentage of Canadians who think more needs to be done to identify seniors in need of long-term health care.

Sources: Ipsos, 2015. Expectations of the Health Care System Presented to HealthCareCAN. CBC, 2014. "Medical wait times up to 3 times longer in Canada".