I originally planned to share these thoughts at the start of the year, but with so much shifting in the world, I hesitated—how do you make predictions in a world that changes so much by the day? But after discussing some of these ideas with clients and colleagues, I felt encouraged to post them.
While healthcare may not dominate headlines as much as economic concerns, it will undoubtedly remain a critical issue in 2025. Whether shaped by political promises, technological advances, or ongoing system pressures, this year will be pivotal in determining how we deliver, fund, and experience healthcare in Canada. Here are some of the key trends I believe will define the year ahead.
Healthcare in the Spotlight: Election-Year Scrutiny
With a federal election approaching, healthcare remains a key concern, even as economic issues dominate public discourse. Canadians are increasingly frustrated, questioning whether their tax dollars are truly supporting a system that meets their needs. Our PatientConnect segmentation reveals that 3 in 4 Canadians believe limited access to healthcare poses a direct threat to their health.
We are approaching a tipping point, where voters expect concrete action, not empty rhetoric. Political parties will face intense pressure to present clear, measurable plans to reduce wait times, improve access to primary care, and address critical gaps in mental health services.
Despite Canadians’ frustrations with the state of healthcare and their sense that leaders of many stripes have failed in this area in recent years, they still look to government for solutions. Canadians are paying close attention, and vague promises won’t be enough to win public confidence.
The Family Doctor Crisis Will Deepen Before It Improves
According to an estimate recently cited by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) it is estimated that more than 1 in 5 Canadians does not have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner they see regularly. The structural issues driving this crisis – outdated compensation models, overwhelming administrative burdens, and insufficient incentives for new medical graduates to pursue family practice – remain largely unresolved.
In 2025, I believe we’ll see continued experimentation with team-based care models, expanded virtual consultations, and a further expanded scope of practice for pharmacists. Nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other allied healthcare professionals, already essential pillars of the healthcare system, will take on even greater responsibility, helping to fill gaps in access and alleviate pressure on overburdened family physicians.
AI and Digital Health Tools: Promise and Pitfalls
AI is no longer a future promise—it’s here, actively transforming diagnostics, hospital management, and patient care pathways. These technologies are already demonstrating immense potential to improve outcomes, efficiency, and overall healthcare experiences.
In 2025, healthcare leaders will need to carefully balance this potential with critical considerations around ethical implementation, data privacy, and equitable access to technology.
As healthcare professionals grow more comfortable using AI tools, I anticipate we’ll see more pilot programs designed to test and refine these technologies, generating valuable data to demonstrate their impact on patient outcomes and care quality.
This evidence will not only validate the benefits of AI but also build public confidence, helping system users understand the value of these new technologies and how they can be deployed responsibly.
The Mental Health Imperative
The mental health crisis in Canada continues to escalate, affecting patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike. As we enter 2025, economic uncertainty and other factors will continue to influence the mental well-being of Canadians. According to my colleague David MacDonald, MBA, CAIP , who has analyzed over a decade of tracking data, the connection between financial well-being and mental health is undeniable.
Recent data from the Canadian Mental Health Association reveals that mental health in Canada is three times worse than pre-pandemic levels, with millions struggling to access necessary care. Additionally, 21.2% of employed Canadians report experiencing high or very high work-related stress, citing heavy workloads and difficulty balancing personal and professional responsibilities. Addressing mental health will require a more integrated approach—one that acknowledges the financial stressors weighing on Canadians and prioritizes solutions that promote both economic and emotional well-being.
In response, I anticipate a stronger push to integrate mental health support within primary care. However, given the scale and complexity of this crisis (combined with the existing demands on primary care), healthcare interventions alone will not be enough. Employers must take a more active role in addressing workplace mental health, recognizing its direct impact on productivity, employee retention, and overall workplace culture. With mental health issues accounting for 30% of disability claims in Canada and costing the economy approximately $50 billion annually, investing in workplace well-being is not just a moral imperative—it’s an economic one.
We are likely to see greater emphasis on culturally appropriate care models to better serve equity-deserving and underserved communities. Tailoring mental health support to reflect diverse lived experiences is essential for reducing stigma, improving accessibility, and fostering trust in the healthcare system.
Addressing mental health is no longer optional—it is fundamental to building a more resilient, more inclusive, and healthier Canada.
Health Inequities Will Demand Attention
Healthcare outcomes in Canada continue to vary dramatically based on race, geography, and income, with Indigenous communities facing significant disparities not only in access to and quality of care but also in preventative health measures such as nutrition, recreation, and early intervention. These inequities contribute to stark health outcomes; for example, according to the Heart & Stroke, Indigenous people experience heart disease rates up to 50% higher than the general Canadian population, and the death rate from stroke is twice as high. In 2025, I expect to see an increased focus on culturally safe care models, efforts to improve rural healthcare delivery, and greater transparency in healthcare data to address inequities head on.
For health systems to succeed in this vital work, a focus on equity must become a core principle in healthcare delivery, not just a side consideration.
Climate Change Will Stress Our Healthcare Systems
Climate change is already placing significant strain on healthcare systems through effects like heatwaves, natural disasters, poor air quality, and the spread of vector-borne diseases. A 2021 report by the Canadian Climate Institute / Institut climatique du Canada projects that, without significant adaptation efforts, climate change could cost Canada’s healthcare system billions of dollars and reduce economic activity by tens of billions over the coming decades.
In 2025, I expect the connection between climate change and healthcare resilience to become far more prominent in both public discourse and policy discussions. Rising anxieties among the general population about the health impacts of climate change will likely grow.
Healthcare systems will need to future-proof infrastructure, improve disaster preparedness plans, and embed sustainable operational practices.
When it comes to public health, policymakers will likely place greater emphasis on how environmental factors contribute to respiratory illnesses, heat-related conditions, and other preventable health concerns.
In 2025, we’ll see more pilot initiatives, targeted policy discussions, and cross-sector collaborations aimed at addressing these interconnected crises.
Preventative Care Will Take Centre Stage
Preventative healthcare often takes a backseat to crisis management, but it remains one of the most cost-effective ways to improve health outcomes. In 2025, I expect to see a growing emphasis on lifestyle and behavioural changes as key pillars of preventative care.
Conversations about the connection between diet and long-term health outcomes are becoming more common, focusing on how food choices impact chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. And discussions of the long-term health effects of alcohol have exploded.
While skepticism about the healthcare system’s capacity to provide timely care is growing, many people are taking proactive steps to safeguard their health. Whether due to personal priorities, broader wellness trends, or concerns about access to care, this includes regular exercise, prioritizing mental health, reducing alcohol consumption, and managing stress intentionally.
In 2025, we’ll see an intensification of recent trends: preventative care will extend beyond vaccination campaigns and screenings to include broader conversations about nutrition, physical activity, and sustainable habits.
The Road Ahead: A Moment for Bold Leadership
2025 will be a year of both tension and opportunity in Canadian healthcare. The system’s challenges are deeply entrenched, but the tools, innovations, and knowledge available to us have never been more powerful.
The big question: will political leaders, healthcare providers, and the public come together to drive meaningful change—or will we settle for incremental improvements that fail to meet the scale of the challenge?
