Long waits for routine medical services as well as appointments for specialized tests and healthcare have many Canadians sick with worry, says a study released by Statistics Canada Monday.

The survey found that millions of Canadians had difficulty obtaining treatment or advice for even minor health problems while hundreds of thousands sufferred distress because of long waits for specialized medical care.

The Health Services Access Survey looked at two kinds of healthcare services -- first contact services and specialized services.

The survey found more than 23 million Canadians -- about 94 per cent of the total adult population -- accessed first contact services in 2001, including routine care from a family physician or clinic, health information and immediate care for minor health problems.

Of these, about 18 per cent, or just under 4.3 million people, encountered a difficulty of some kind, with long waits and problems contacting a health care provider topping the list.

Meanwhile, an estimated 6.1 million Canadians needed specialized services last year, including visits to specialists, non-emergency surgery and diagnostic tests.

Of these, about 23 per cent or 1.4 million people, encountered problems, with having to wait too long yet again heading up the list of complaints.

More than 20 per cent of those who waited for specialized services said they felt the amount of time they waited was "unacceptable."

An estimated 5 million Canadians visited a specialist in 2001, and about 900,000 of them said they experienced worry, anxiety, mental stress or physical pain while waiting to get an appointment.

"This may be because people waiting for specialist visits and diagnostic tests often do not know the details of their health problems and are waiting for a diagnosis,'' said a press release from Statistics Canada.

But, Canadians were happy with care once they received it -- especially when it came from their family doctors. Over 92 per cent rated their family doctor's care as excellent or good, while fewer than seven per cent said it was fair or poor.

Officials at Statistics Canada would not make any sweeping conclusions about the quality of the country's healthcare system as this is the first study of its kind -- meaning there are no data from past studies on which to base a comparison.

"I'll let you decide if my glass is half full or half empty," Jean-Marie Berthelot, an analyst who worked on the survey told a news conference.

"We are responsible for measuring the views of Canadians. We will not make any judgment calls," said Berthelot.

Dr. Henry Haddad, president of the Canadian Medical Association, said the anecdotal evidence available does not bode well for the expeditiousness of healthcare nationwide.

Haddad cited recent cases from his own practice where patients had waited eight months for a relatively simple ultrasound test.

"I don't think it's getting any better," said Haddad. "I don't know if it's getting any worse, that's hard to call."

Alex Swann, a spokesperson for Health Minister Anne McLellan, said the minister realizes "access to care is an important area for healthcare renewal."

But, the government is waiting for a report from a royal commission headed by former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow before deciding on any concrete reforms.

Ottawa announced two years ago it would provide $21.5 billion in new medicare funding to the provinces over five years but has resisted calls to increase that amount.

The Statistics Canada survey was conducted in 10 provinces in November and December 2001. In total, 14,210 people over the age of 15 were interviewed.