Losing Doctors to Desk Work : Canadian physicians lose 20 million hours each year to red tape

 Presented in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.     

Canada’s health care system is stretched thin and unnecessary administrative work is making it worse. Building on CFIB's previous reports, this new joint report from CFIB and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) provides the most comprehensive look yet at how administrative burdens are affecting doctors and the health care system.

Based on a national survey of physicians across Canada, the report finds that more than one full day every week is lost to administrative tasks—nearly half of which don’t require a physician’s expertise. Eliminating this red tape could free up the equivalent of 9,093 full‑time physicians, easing pressure on the system while helping doctors reclaim time for their families, their patients, and themselves.

This latest edition not only updates the numbers but highlights practical change that governments and organizations can make to cut unnecessary paperwork, reduce burnout, and restore a healthier balance between clinical practice and personal life.

Explore the findings and see what can change when we prioritize efficiency over bureaucracy.

 How Canadian physicians lose 20 million hours each year to red tape 

Read the full report:

Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Losing doctors to desk work: Canadian physicians lose 20 million hours each year to red tape. Ottawa: The Association; 2026 Jan.  Available: https://digitallibrary.cma.ca/link/digitallibrary1478