Healthcare strain compounds challenges for newcomers, as half of Canadians struggle to access family doctors

Canada's healthcare crisis is hitting a critical point, with new data revealing that 50% of Canadians either lack a family doctor or face significant barriers accessing one, up from 40% a decade ago. This deteriorating situation poses particular challenges for immigrants and newcomers, who already navigate complex settlement processes and now encounter a strained medical system ill-equipped to meet growing demand. Despite healthcare spending nearly doubling to $399 billion since 2015 and the ratio of family doctors per capita actually increasing in most provinces, an aging population with complex medical needs has outpaced system capacity. The situation is most acute in Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, where access problems are most pronounced.

#canada_healthcare, #immigration_challenges, #family_doctor_shortage, #newcomer_services, #canada_immigration, #population_aging, #settlement_services