Wait times longer for certain cancer treatments, new health data shows – CTV

June 12, 2025

Five years on from the COVID-19 pandemic, wait times for key surgeries have yet to bounce back, new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows.

Released Thursday, the data set tracks wait times for “priority procedures” such as hip and knee replacements, cataract surgeries, cancer treatments including radiation therapy, and diagnostic imaging like MRI and CT scans.

While the total count of scheduled procedures has risen for some since 2019, the numbers show, Canadian patients are often still waiting longer to get them than before the pandemic began.

“Health systems are managing multiple challenges, including an aging and growing population, rising demand for procedures, and health workforce shortages,” CIHI noted in a release. “More scheduled procedures are being performed to meet growing demand.”

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/wait-times-for-major-medical-procedures-still-longer-than-pre-pandemic-levels-data-shows/

NationTalk Partners & Sponsors Learn More