Alberta survey finds specialist wait times top concern for residents

A 2026 Alberta Medical Association survey of 1,100 adults conducted between May 12‑19 revealed that half of respondents in the Central Zone identified delays to see specialists and access procedures as the biggest health‑care problem. Similar concerns were expressed across the province, with 45 % of Albertans overall citing specialist wait times as the most widespread complaint. Dr. Brian Wirzba, AMA president, said, “Albertans are not questioning the skill of health‑care providers or the quality of the care they provide. They are questioning whether they can reach that care when it matters most.” The AMA highlighted a widening gap between confidence in providers and confidence in the system’s ability to deliver timely care. Emergency and urgent care were rated poor by 53 % of central respondents (around half in other zones). Additionally, 40 % of parents reported their child has a mental‑health or developmental condition, yet fewer than half said the child was receiving support. The association stressed that while the challenges are real, they are solvable.