Canadians still waiting longer for surgeries than before COVID

The backlog of surgeries in Canada post-pandemic is diminishing, but wait times for hip and knee replacements and cancer surgeries remain longer than pre-COVID levels, with only 68% of hip surgeries meeting the 26-week benchmark in 2024. Contributing factors include a shortage of specialists, limited operating room resources, and an aging population, prompting provinces to expand outpatient surgeries and private clinic options.

More Context