A recent poll reveals that over one-third of Canadians are resorting to searching for health information online due to a lack of access to medical professionals. This trend highlights the ongoing challenges posed by a significant physician shortage across the country. The survey, conducted by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) in collaboration with Abacus Data, found that 37 percent of respondents utilized online medical advice because they were unable to see a doctor or other healthcare providers.
Moreover, the survey indicated that 23 percent of participants experienced negative health impacts or adverse reactions as a result of following health advice found online. Conducted in November 2024, the poll included responses from 3,727 adult Canadians, but it is essential to note that online surveys do not allow for a margin of error calculation due to their non-random nature.
The CMA emphasized that the escalating rate of Canadians turning to online sources for medical assistance underscores the lack of accessible healthcare across the nation. An estimated 6.5 million Canadians, constituting one in five Canadians, lack a family doctor or regular access to a nurse practitioner. CMA president Dr. Joss Reimer expressed serious concern over the findings, pointing out the dual challenges of misinformation proliferation and an overstretched healthcare system that fails to meet public needs.
Statistics from Employment and Social Development Canada reveal that Canada possesses fewer doctors per capita compared to many nations within the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). The analysis forecasts a staggering 48,900 job openings for general practitioners and family physicians from 2022 to 2031, while only 29,400 job seekers are expected to be available. This discrepancy indicates a potential shortage of almost 20,000 doctors.
The CMA identified various factors contributing to this shortage, including the retirement of many family doctors, a decline in the number of new physicians entering family medicine, and a rising trend of doctors specializing in niche services instead of providing general care. Furthermore, Dr. Reimer pointed to physician burnout as a pressing issue within the healthcare system, describing the current situation as the worst she has witnessed regarding access to care and the burnout experienced by medical professionals.
The survey results also highlighted that 42 percent of participants have sought medical advice online, with 31 percent stating they had opted for online recommendations over those provided by their doctors or other healthcare providers. Dr. Reimer expressed her concern regarding the easy spread of health misinformation online, stressing the importance of building trusting relationships between patients and healthcare professionals.
In light of these challenges, Dr. Reimer encouraged Canadians to rely on reputable sources when seeking health information online, recommending organizations such as the Public Health Agency of Canada. She proposed that the solution lies in developing a more integrated healthcare system that is universally accessible, emphasizing the need for collaboration among pharmacists, nurses, doctors, and social workers to facilitate patient information sharing and improve healthcare access.
Dr. Reimer underscored that when individuals lack trusted relationships with healthcare providers, they are more inclined to turn to the internet for information. The overarching sentiment remains that a restructured and accessible healthcare system is essential to meet the evolving needs of Canadians.
