Strong care, growing access challenges across the system
Based on a province-wide survey of 1,100 Albertans and supported by direct patient insights, the 2026 State of Health Care report points to a clear and widening gap: a mismatch between strong confidence in health care providers and declining confidence in the system’s ability to deliver timely, accessible care.
The findings show the quality of care remains a core strength, but access to that care is under growing strain and increasingly shaping how Albertans experience the system.
Wait times are a defining challenge. From primary care to specialist referrals and emergency services, delays are affecting how and when patients receive the care they need. Even in areas where access has improved modestly, such as family medicine, securing timely appointments remains difficult for many Albertans.
Health care use is widespread, with nine in ten Albertans accessing services in the past year, and the ability to access timely, coordinated care is now the key factor shaping patient experiences across the system.
Read the supporting dataset for the report.
Shaped by the voices and perspectives of real Albertans, the report is designed to track system changes over time. The 2026 report builds on last year’s baseline report, offering a clearer picture of how the system is evolving.
40% of parents report that at least one child in their household has a mental health or developmental condition, but less than half say their child is receiving the support they need.
Families consistently report that navigating the pediatric mental health system is difficult. Timely access to specialist care, coordination between providers and the ability to navigate the system are all rated poorly — among the lowest of any area in the health system.
Alberta families are calling for more timely access to assessments, shorter waits for therapy and referrals and better care coordination to ensure children receive the care they need, when they need it.
Key insights
- 40% of parents report that at least one child in their household has a mental health or developmental condition.
- Only 42% report their child is currently receiving support.
- 19% are actively seeking support but have not yet found it.
- Nearly half report that pediatric mental health supports have deteriorated in recent years.
Read the news release and review the data.
While most Albertans report satisfaction with care from specialists when they receive it, long wait times continue to erode their health care experiences.
Nearly one quarter of Albertans are waiting to see a specialist, and most say the wait is too long — often with tangible health impacts. Patients describe delays of months or even years, leading to worsening health conditions, more complex treatment and increased uncertainty.
This gap between quality and access reflects a broader pattern across Alberta’s health system: the care itself is strong — but getting to it remains a significant barrier.
Key insights
- 24% of Albertans are currently on a waitlist to see a specialist for an initial consultation or receive a procedure.
- Of those waiting, 84% say their wait time is too long.
- 70% rate the quality of care received for a specialist physician as good or excellent.
- Only 40% rate timeliness of access to care from a specialist positively.
- Nearly half (48%) rate timeliness as poor.
Read the news release and review the data.
Family medicine is the front door to Alberta’s health system. Albertans rely on family physicians to coordinate specialist referrals, identify health concerns early and keep them out of hospital. When Albertans can access that care, their experiences are overwhelmingly positive.
While the proportion of Albertans without a family doctor has decreased modestly, access to family physicians remains a persistent challenge. Even those who have a doctor often struggle to get timely appointments, and Albertans in rural and smaller communities often report that no physicians are accepting patients where they live. Patients are increasingly turning to urgent care and emergency departments when they can’t wait any longer.
Access to a family doctor also shapes overall health care experiences. Those who can get an appointment when they need one report significantly higher satisfaction with the health system, underscoring the central role of family medicine in delivering high-quality, connected care.
Key insights
- Eight in 10 Albertans saw a family doctor in the past year.
- 81% of patients rate the quality of their last family doctor visit as very good or excellent.
- Albertans with good access to their family physician report higher satisfaction (72%) than those still looking (53%).
- 16% of Albertans currently do not have a family doctor (down from 18% in 2025).
- 7% are actively seeking a family physician but are unable to find one.
- Only 53% of patients with a family doctor say they can usually get an appointment when they need one.
- 78% of walk-in clinic users say they go because they can’t see their family doctor soon enough.
Read the news release and review the data.
About the State of Health Care 2026 Report
The State of Health Care 2026 Report is produced by the Alberta Medical Association in partnership with ThinkHQ Public Affairs. It provides an annual, evidence-based assessment of patient experiences, system performance and emerging challenges in Alberta’s health care system.
The 2026 report is based on an online survey of 1,100 adult Albertans conducted between May 12 and May 19, 2026, along with qualitative insights from the AMA’s PatientsFirst.ca community.