Medical Wait Times Cost Canadians $3.5 Billion in Lost Wages Last Year: Study

Long waitlists for surgery and medical treatment cost Canadians $3.5 billion in lost wages and productivity in 2023, a recently published study suggests. Approximately 1.2 million patients were left waiting for essential medical treatment last year, and each lost an average of $2,871 in wages and reduced productivity during working hours, according to the Fraser Institute. “Waiting for medically necessary treatment remains a hallmark of the Canadian health-care system, and in addition to increased pain and suffering—and potentially worse medical outcomes—these long waits also cost Canadians time at work and with family and friends,” said Fraser Institute senior fellow Nadeem Esmail in a press release....