Majority of Ontarians say health care has worsened over the past year
TORONTO, ON - A survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) revealed that the majority of Ontarians believe the health care crisis is worse now than it was a year ago. Ontarians recognized the cracks in our health system run much deeper than access to a family doctor and demonstrated concern for increased wait times, diagnostic imaging, specialist appointments, and surgeries. Additionally, the majority of Ontarians recognized this government has not delivered on its promise to end hallway medicine.
The poll found:
- 68% of Ontarians say the health care system is worse than it was a year ago.
- 83% agree that wait times for surgeries, specialist appointments, and diagnostic tests such as MRI's - have worsened.
- Nearly six in ten Ontarians (59%) say the government has not fulfilled its promise to end hallway medicine.
"These numbers confirm what doctors see every day: the crisis in health care is getting worse, not better," said Dr. Dominik Nowak, president of the Ontario Medical Association. "Ontarians deserve timely access to doctors, specialists, and emergency care. Health care is a severe concern for Ontarians and should be a top priority this election."
As the Ontario election passes the halfway point, Ontarians are looking to candidates for answers to the challenges they experience when they need to rely on a health care system that should always be there for them. There are plenty of challenges Ontarians will confront in the coming years and doctors believe our health care system should not be one of them. Rather, it should be a guarantee Ontarians can count on as they navigate an uncertain economic future.
Ontario’s doctors want what is best for their patients and have outlined their recommendations in the OMA Stop the Crisis. Ontarians recognize our health system is trending in the wrong direction and in need of leaders keen to resolve our current challenges.
"A strong economy depends on a strong health-care system," said Dr. Nowak. "When patients can't get timely surgeries or specialist care, they can't work. And when people avoid the emergency department because of long wait times, serious health issues can go undiagnosed or untreated, leading to even worse outcomes."
Health care is on the ballot this election. Ontario’s doctors encourage all Ontarians to learn about each party’s commitment to improving access to care and wait times. With nearly seven in ten Ontarians saying the system has deteriorated in just the past year, the OMA urges voters to demand real solutions from their candidates and consider their commitments to improving the health-care system when they cast their vote.
Methodology
These are the findings of an Ipsos survey conducted on behalf of the Ontario Medical Association. Fieldwork was conducted between February 6-7, 2025. A total of n=501 Ontarians aged 18+ participated in the survey which was fielded via the Ipsos’ panel. Quotas and weighting were used to ensure the sample's composition reflects that of the Ontario population according to census parameters. The precision of Ipsos online surveys is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the survey is accurate to within +/- 5.4 per cent 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had all Ontario adults 18+ been surveyed. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
About the OMA
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario’s 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario’s health-care system.
