US Edition
Canadians still waiting longer for surgeries than before COVID
- In 2024, Canadians experienced lengthy surgical wait times, with a median duration of 30 weeks from referral to treatment, and approximately 1.5 million individuals were awaiting medical care.
- These delays stem from workforce shortages, an aging population, and care complexity despite a 5% increase in surgical volume since 2019.
- Wait times increased notably for hip and knee replacements and cancer surgeries, with prostate cancer surgery jumping to 50 days from 41 in 2019.
- Fraser Institute experts say Canada could reduce wait times by adopting Switzerland’s model, which blends universal coverage with greater private sector involvement.
- Long waits continue to impose $5.2 billion in lost wages, highlighting the need for reforms that balance universal coverage with timely access.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Kelowna orthopedic surgeon calling on government to hire private clinic to help clear surgical backlog
The top orthopedic surgeon in Kelowna is calling on the provincial government to contract out some procedures to a local private clinic in an effort to clear the massive and growing backlog of surgeries.
Long waits for health care hit Canadians in their pocketbooks
From the Fraser Institute By Mackenzie Moir Canadians continue to endure long wait times for health care. And while waiting for care can obviously be detrimental to your health and wellbeing, it can also hurt your pocketbook. In 2024, the latest year of available data, the median wait—from referral by a family doctor to treatment by a specialist—was 30 weeks (including 15 weeks waiting for treatment after seeing a specialist). And last year, an …
The Record
Canadians still waiting longer for surgery than they should, but Ontarians are closer to target range: health study
The Canadian Institute for Health Information released its data June 12, which showed not everyone needing hip or knee replacements is getting the procedure within a provincially suggested timeline.
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