Despite a publicly funded healthcare system, access to timely and appropriate care can still be challenging for many individuals in Canada. Indigenous peoples, rural residents, low-income families, vulnerable groups such as women and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and immigrant populations often confront these challenges daily, resulting in poorer health and diminished well-being.
Health disparities in Canada go beyond individual health issues - they underscore deeper societal injustices that undermine our social fabric. These inequities highlight the existence of systemic barriers and inequalities that weaken the overall health and well-being of Canadians from coast to coast.
Together, we possess the ability to shape a future where health and hope shine equally throughout our country.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Access to health care, 2023
Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011, Reducing Health inequalities: A challenge for our Times
Canadian Medical Association, Indigenous health
Hahmann T., & Kumar, M. (2022). Unmet health care needs during the pandemic and resulting impacts among First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit
Public health agency of Canada, 2018, Key Health Inequalities in Canada – A national portrait