Five years since COVID-19 pandemic, five lessons about Canadian health care

Press Release

March 5, 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and great swaths of the world locked down — while hospitals grew busier and busier treating a largely unknown, deadly and rapidly spreading illness.

Five years later, here are some of the lessons we learned:

1. Safety for health workers means more than PPE

When the pandemic hit, CMA took action in demanding personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep health workers safe. But physicians and other health workers also faced an increase in abuse — both in-person and online — while advocating for public safety measures such as masking and COVID-19 vaccines. In November 2021, the CMA pushed for an amendment to the Criminal Code to make harassing or bullying a health care worker a specific offence.

Bill C-3 became law in December 2021 — but the work is not done yet. Reports show violence against health workers continues to rise Opens in a new window. Following a recent stabbing at a Halifax hospital, the CMA has renewed calls to enforce the law.

2. False information has a real impact on health — and isn’t going anywhere

The rise of false information and fake news during the pandemic is well-documented Opens in a new window. A recent CMA survey found that the problem has only grown since then — 62% of respondents reported encountering health information or news they later found out was false or misleading, with 43% of Canadians highly susceptible to believing it.

At a panel about the survey, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said protecting Canadians from the next pandemic may be even tougher: “I’m concerned that it will be more difficult now than it was at the beginning of 2020.”

Rebuilding trust in institutions like hers requires more open communication about how public health decisions are made, she said.

3. Health care workers are human. Ongoing pressure on the health system takes a toll

The pandemic exacerbated under-resourcing in health care, driving unprecedented rates of burnout Opens in a new window, depression and other psychological distress among health workers. Some have left the sector entirely.

The CMA launched the Physican Wellness Hub with resources for the profession.

To drive system-level change, the CMA hosts national and international conferences on physician health and continues to work to reduce the administrative burden in medicine, improve health workforce planning and scale up team-based care.

4. Marginalized communities have it the worst during a health crisis

COVID-19 perpetuated existing health inequities. According to Statistics Canada Opens in a new window, low-income individuals, immigrants, racialized Canadians, Indigenous populations and those living in remote communities faced higher mortality rates than the rest of the population.

Severe shortcomings were also revealed in long-term care — especially worrisome given that more than a quarter of the population will be over 65 years of age by 2036.

That’s why the CMA Foundation (CMAF) made commitments such as $2 million for long-term care facilities Opens in a new window to address COVID-19’s impact and $11 million for the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund Opens in a new window in efforts to advance reconciliation in health.

5. Health workers have the greatest impact working together

The CMA worked with the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and provincial health associations to raise awareness of the challenges facing health workers through the pandemic. Internationally, the CMA worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) to advocate for equitable vaccine access and ensure a cohesive global response to the pandemic.

With its more than $38 million in commitments Opens in a new window, the CMAF is also working with several groups across the health sector to address urgent needs, build resilience in health care, support research, the medical profession and vulnerable populations.

IHT5