Philips Future Health Index research finds 1 in 5 Canadians have ended up in hospital while awaiting care

The FHI 2025 report highlights significant challenges in accessing healthcare. Nearly half of patients (45%) report long wait times securing appointments with doctors, and more than a quarter of patients (27%) say their health worsened due to the delays. Approximately 1 in 5 have ended up in the hospital while waiting for care.

Specialist appointments are often delayed, with 71% of those surveyed facing long waits. Patients face an average longest waiting time of 131 days, the highest among 16 countries surveyed and nearly double the global average, making timely access to care a major challenge for Canadians.

Ninety percent of HCPs believe that, when implemented correctly, AI can help them reclaim time by automating repetitive tasks. With specialist staff in short supply – particularly in under resourced areas – AI can support less experienced staff, helping them perform at higher proficiency levels and improving access to quality care.

While 86% of healthcare professionals are optimistic that AI can help improve patient outcomes, only 49% of patients believe in AI’s potential to improve healthcare. This trust gap of 37 percentage points is one of the largest among all countries surveyed in the research. These findings highlight a critical challenge that healthcare leaders, policymakers and industry players must address to maximize the benefits of AI.

However, patients are not completely untrusting of AI, signaling a foundation where trust can continue to be built. Encouragingly, the report finds that patients are more receptive to AI when it improves access, reduces errors and gives doctors more time for personalized care.