Timely access to healthcare continues to be a significant concern for many Canadians, and even more so for those who have recently been diagnosed with cancer. Yet a new polling finds one-in-five Canadians without a family physician, defining their experience with the rest of the healthcare system. This situation has led to negative experiences for those without a primary care provider, as they navigate a complex and often inaccessible medical landscape.
In fact, the survey reveals that just 16% of Canadians feel they have convenient access to health care. One-third encounter multiple challenges in obtaining needed services, and a quarter have persistent and chronic trouble. These statistics highlight the dire need for accountability and improvements in our healthcare system that prioritize vulnerable populations, such as cancer patients.
About one in 10 Canadians surveyed has a personal history of cancer. Over the last six months, those seeking emergency care experienced unprecedented hurdles. An alarming 44% of them reported that it was hard or very hard to get to these critical services. This struggle is exacerbated by the concentration of cancer treatment centers in Canada’s largest urban areas, leaving rural and remote communities underserved.
Almost 16% of Canada’s population lives in rural and remote communities. In these places, access to any kind of medical care is particularly challenging. The survey showed an upsetting reality. Half of the residents in these regions who have a personal connection with someone diagnosed with cancer are required to travel beyond their own community to receive treatment. This great distance comes at a time when quality of care often suffers. It causes immense emotional and financial burden to both patients and their families.
Ten per cent of Canadians said that a friend or family member gave up on cancer care altogether in order to pursue it through alternatives at home. This decision illustrates how far people are willing to go to overcome access barriers. In the process, they frequently risk their ability to receive any medical care at all.
The survey also showed a surging willingness to adopt technology to deliver care in new ways. Canadians overwhelmingly supported rapid access to cancer diagnosis and treatment by a 4 to 1 margin—76% said they would use virtual care if it meant faster treatment. Fewer than two-in-five adults, only 37%, are comfortable using AI-supported diagnostics and treatment planning. This indicates that most are adopting a wait-and-see approach when it comes to adopting technology within the healthcare arena.
Second, accessing diagnostic tests is another major obstacle for Canadians. More than one-third of people required a diagnostic test in the last six months. Worse yet, 36% of them had difficulty obtaining that test. This barrier has resulted in harmful delays in diagnosis and treatment, exacerbating the difficult road cancer patients already face.
The Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies (CAPCA) emphasizes the importance of improving care delivery by encouraging patients to “play a more active role in care delivery.” This approach may help address some of the disparities in access and empower patients to seek the care they need.
