Canadian healthcare wait times for medically necessary treatments have hit an unprecedented high, according to the Fraser Institute’s annual Waiting Your Turn report for 2024.
The median wait time from referral by a general practitioner to treatment by a specialist is now 30 weeks, a notable increase from 27.7 weeks in 2023 and 222% longer than in 1993. This marks the longest median wait time recorded in the 33-year history of the survey.
The report, based on responses from nearly 2,000 specialists across 12 medical fields and 10 provinces, reveals significant regional disparities. Ontario reports the shortest wait times at 23.6 weeks, while patients in Prince Edward Island endure an alarming 77.4 weeks. By specialty, radiation oncology patients experience the shortest waits at 4.5 weeks, whereas those needing orthopedic surgery face delays of up to 57.4 weeks.
The waiting period is divided into two key phases: the time from GP referral to specialist consultation, and the time from consultation to treatment. Both have increased to 15 weeks each, with the latter now exceeding what physicians consider clinically reasonable by over six weeks.
Diagnostic wait times have also risen. For example, Canadians wait 16.2 weeks on average for an MRI, up from 12.9 weeks in 2023. Prince Edward Island stands out again with the longest waits for both MRIs (52 weeks) and CT scans (26 weeks).
Experts warn that these delays are not merely inconvenient but can lead to significant health and economic consequences, including worsened medical outcomes, chronic conditions, and financial burdens for patients unable to work while waiting. Despite various provincial initiatives aimed at reducing delays, the report underscores the need for systemic reforms to address these persistent challenges.
With over 1.5 million Canadians currently waiting for treatment, equivalent to 3.7% of the population, the findings highlight an urgent healthcare crisis demanding immediate action.
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