Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health Workforce in Canada

Abstract

Healthcare workers are the foundation that keep our healthcare systems running. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented demands on Canada's health workforce. The Canadian Institute for Health Information has compiled data and information to help inform how the pandemic has impacted healthcare workers and the care Canadians received. This article deliberates on the many challenges of the pandemic, such as safety and access to personal protective equipment, faced by healthcare workers along with its impact on health workers and the health care system. The article also shares how the system responded to protect the health workforce and boost capacity by expanding provider roles and adapting new ways of delivering services, including quickly adapting to virtual care.