December 12, 2024 from Fraser Institute
Wait times for medical care in Canada continue to lengthen, with the 2024 median wait time between a referral and treatment reaching 30 weeks, up from 27.7 weeks in 2023. This marks a staggering 222% increase from the 9.3-week wait reported in 1993, highlighting a growing strain on the healthcare system.
Wait Times by Province and Specialty
Healthcare access varies significantly by province. Patients in Ontario reported the shortest total wait times at 23.6 weeks, followed by Quebec (28.9 weeks) and British Columbia (29.5 weeks). In contrast, Prince Edward Islandreported the longest wait at a shocking 77.4 weeks, followed by New Brunswick (69.4 weeks) and Newfoundland and Labrador (43.2 weeks).
When examining medical specialties, wait times for Orthopaedic Surgery were the longest at 57.5 weeks, followed by Neurosurgery at 46.2 weeks. On the other end of the spectrum, patients seeking treatment in Radiation Oncology (4.5 weeks) and Medical Oncology (4.7 weeks) experienced much shorter waits.
A Two-Stage Waiting Process
Canada’s median 30-week wait time reflects two distinct stages:
- Referral from GP to specialist consultation: 15.0 weeks
- Consultation to receipt of treatment: 15.0 weeks
This delay exceeds what physicians consider clinically reasonable. After seeing a specialist, Canadian patients waited 6.3 weeks longer than the ideal 8.6 weeks.
Impact on Diagnostic Technology
Delays also extended to diagnostic services:
- MRI scans: 16.2 weeks
- CT scans: 8.1 weeks
- Ultrasound: 5.2 weeks
These delays can further prolong the overall treatment timeline, adding to patient frustration and health risks.
The Bigger Picture
In 2024, an estimated 1.5 million Canadian patients were waiting for medical procedures. With more than 1,900 responses collected from physicians across 12 specialties and 10 provinces, the data paints a sobering picture of healthcare access in Canada.
The growing gap between demand and capacity in the healthcare system requires urgent attention. Long waits for treatment and diagnostic services are not just an inconvenience—they can have serious implications for patient outcomes.
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