Nearly 6M Canadians on Medical Waitlists as Delays Outpace Pandemic Backlog: Report

Medical tools are pictured in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary, on July 14, 2023. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Nearly six million Canadians are currently on a health-care waitlist, surpassing levels recorded in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report suggests.

Government data obtained by think tank SecondStreet.org indicate at least 3.7 million Canadians are waiting for surgery, a diagnostic scan, or to see a specialist. But the organization is suggesting figures from Canada’s provinces and territories may not tell the full story.