New research reveals that 5% of practicing physicians in Canada report a disability “always or often,” with an additional 12% reporting disability “sometimes.” The findings, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, call for improved workplace accessibility to ensure equity and sustainability in the medical workforce.
The study, based on data from the 2021 Canadian long-form census, provides nationally representative statistics due to the census’s mandatory participation and 97% completion rate among a randomly selected 25% of the population. Unlike voluntary surveys, this approach minimizes underreporting bias.
According to the analysis, mental health conditions were the most commonly reported disability at 40%, followed by visual impairments at 37%. Hearing, mobility or physical, and cognitive or learning disabilities accounted for 15%, 13%, and 6% of cases, respectively. Female physicians reported higher disability rates (6.0%) compared to their male counterparts (4.5%).
The data also challenges assumptions about age and disability. While disability rates generally increased with age, physicians under 35 still showed a notable prevalence of 5.2%. Hearing, mobility, and physical disabilities rose with age, whereas mental health issues were more common among younger age groups.
Despite these findings, physicians with disabilities are less likely to report disabilities compared to other professions, including law, academia, engineering, and nursing, as well as the general workforce. Dr. Michael Quon, a general internal medicine specialist and clinician investigator at The Ottawa Hospital and an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, emphasized in the study that “physicians with disabilities frequently face discrimination, inaccessible workplaces, and inadequate support.”
Quon and co-authors warned that losing these physicians through attrition deprives the healthcare system of skilled providers with unique perspectives. “Not retaining physicians with disabilities in the workforce means losing skilled providers with valuable perspectives, negatively affecting human health resources,” they wrote.
The authors stress that accessible work environments and equitable policies can improve retention and well-being for physicians with disabilities. They argue that such measures may also enhance patient care by creating a workforce that better mirrors the populations it serves. “Disabilities are an important yet often overlooked contributor to workforce diversity,” the authors note.
The study’s findings show the need for systemic changes in medical institutions. By addressing accessibility barriers, healthcare systems could not only retain experienced professionals but also promote diversity that reflects broader societal needs.