Medical Wait Times Cost Canadian Patients $4.2B in Lost Earnings and Productivity in 2025

Medical Wait Times Cost Canadian Patients $4.2B in Lost Earnings and Productivity in 2025
A radiologist examines X-rays in a file image. Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters
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Prolonged wait times for surgery and medical care cost Canadian patients more than $4.2 billion in lost wages and reduced productivity last year, a new study suggests.

The 1.4 million Canadians who waited for medically necessary treatment in 2025 lost an estimated $3,043 each due to reduced wages and decreased productivity at work, according to a March 10 report from the Fraser Institute.