The Santis—Nanos Canadian Health Perspective is a national public opinion survey tracking Canadian attitudes and sentiment on health care delivery, priorities, and system innovation, powered by Nanos Research and Santis Health. The inaugural survey is the first in a series looking at Canadians’ experience in health care, their priorities, and desire for improvement and innovation.
Our Latest Report
Catching Up to Canadians: AI, Trust and the Next Chapter of Health Care
Released October 1, 2026, our latest survey finds that Canadians see AI as an important tool to tackle long waits and poor access in the health system. They are optimistic about its potential to improve their care and want governments to invest, provided clinicians remain in control and strict regulations and data guardrails are put in place.
May 2026
91%
of Canadians said it was important for the health system to change now.
October 2026
71%
are open to AI reviewing their tests or scans if it means seeing a specialist sooner.
Canadians are ready for AI in health care, on their terms.
71%
Canadians see AI as a way to get care faster, with clinicians in charge.
Seven in 10 Canadians (71%) are open to AI reviewing their tests or scans if it means seeing a specialist sooner. Three in four (75%) say AI should only assist clinicians with diagnosis, while just 5% would accept AI diagnosing a health issue on its own.
80%
Canadians want their health data kept at home.
80% say their health data should stay in Canada and not be used to train AI models outside the country.
86%
Canadians want stronger rules for AI companies.
86% say Ottawa needs to do more to regulate how AI companies use health data, and 57% say responsibility for AI mistakes should be shared by everyone involved.
82%
Canadians support public investment in AI.
82% back government funding for AI to help develop new drugs and medical devices.
40%
AI is already part of how Canadians manage their health.
40% already use AI tools for their health, and Canadians are twice as likely to say AI's benefits outweigh its downsides (47% vs. 24%).
For every use tested, Canadians want AI working alongside their clinician.
Canadians were asked whether it is acceptable for AI to be used on its own, whether AI should only assist their health care provider, or whether AI should not be used at all. Comfort with AI acting alone falls sharply as the stakes rise, while support for AI as an assistant holds strong across the board.
- AI on its own is acceptable
- AI should only assist my provider
- AI should not be used at all
- Unsure
Renewing a prescription
Referring you to a specialist
Providing advice to help manage an ongoing condition
Assessing the urgency of a health issue
Performing surgery with the help of robotic devices
Diagnosing a health issue
Prescribing a new medication
34%
are comfortable with AI renewing a prescription on its own, the highest level of comfort for any use tested.
3x
Canadians are three times more likely to say AI should not be used at all in diagnosis (16%) than to accept AI diagnosing on its own (5%).
Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
What Canadians expect before AI becomes part of their care
Canadians want their health data kept in Canada, and in trusted hands.
Canadians want stronger oversight, and shared responsibility when things go wrong.
Canadians support using public dollars to put AI to work across the system.
AI is already part of how many Canadians manage their health, and optimism is growing.
Canadians have told us the health system needs to change, and AI can help deliver it. Pragmatic and hopeful, they're ready to embrace the type of AI that speeds up medical research, shortens wait times and closes access gaps. This gives decision makers an opportunity to redefine Canadian health with responsible AI in the forefront.
Patrick Nelson
Managing Partner, Santis Health
Webinar Replay
Catching Up to Canadians: AI, Trust and the Next Chapter of Health Care
Watch renowned medical journalist Avis Favaro, Nik Nanos (Chief Data Scientist and Founder, Nanos Research), Dan Carbin (Managing Partner, Santis Health) and Ben King (Digital Health Lead, Santis Health) discuss the October 2026 findings. Nik walks through the data before the panel explores what it means for governments, health leaders and innovators, followed by an open Q&A with the audience.
Expert Panel
Download the Full October 2026 Report
About the October 2026 survey Nanos Research conducted an RDD dual-frame (land- and cell-line) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,037 Canadians (18+) from August 30 to September 2, 2026, as part of an omnibus survey. The results were statistically checked and weighted by age and gender using the latest Census information, and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. This study was commissioned by Santis Health. Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
Driving Meaningful Change
The Santis-Nanos Canadian Health Perspective combines Santis Health's deep sector expertise and strategic advisory services with Nanos Research's gold-standard public opinion methodology. Together, we reveal critical evidence gaps in the Canadian health care system that need to be addressed today.
Santis Health works with Canada's health care leaders to navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI integration, turning insight into strategy that shapes the future of care delivery and systems.