Over 17,000 Canadians died while waiting for surgery or diagnostic scans last year, with actual figures likely exceeding 31,000.
For five years, SecondStreet.org has investigated the grim reality of patients dying before they receive necessary healthcare in Canada. By filing Freedom of Information requests with government health bodies, they have uncovered tens of thousands of cases where patients died waiting for surgeries, diagnostic scans, and specialist appointments—treatments that could have extended or improved their lives.
The latest “Died on a Waiting List” report provides a grim look at Canada’s healthcare crisis, revealing how long wait times have contributed to suffering and loss.
Key Findings from the Report
- At least 17,032 Canadians died in 2022-23 while waiting for surgery or diagnostic scans.
- The true number is likely much higher—if missing provinces were included, an estimated 31,397 patients may have died waiting for care.
- Patients waited anywhere from less than a week to nearly 11 years before passing away.
- 101 patients in Ontario died waiting for heart surgery, with 36 of them exceeding the maximum recommended wait time.
- Since 2018, 58,652 Canadians have died on waitlists for medical procedures.
- Over the last five years, surgical waiting list deaths have increased by 64%, and in the past year alone, they rose 30%.
One of the most heartbreaking cases was 18-year-old Laura Hillier, who died in 2016 while waiting seven months for a hospital bed and a surgeon for her cancer treatment. Her story is one of thousands that continue to unfold every year in Canada’s overburdened healthcare system.
Is Healthcare Spending the Problem?
Critics often argue that more funding is needed to fix Canada’s struggling healthcare system. However, the report highlights that spending has already increased dramatically over the last three decades:
- In 1992-93, healthcare spending per person was $1,714.
- By 2022-23, that number had surged to $5,607—nearly double the rate of inflation.
Despite this, Canada still has some of the longest wait times in the developed world, ranking among the highest spenders on healthcare within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
With spending at record levels but waitlists worsening, experts argue that reform—not more money—is the real solution.
Proposed Solutions to Reduce Waitlist Deaths
- Increased Healthcare Choices
The Commonwealth Fund has repeatedly found that countries outperforming Canada allow patients a choice between public and private healthcare. Expanding access to private options within Canada could relieve pressure on the public system and give patients faster treatment alternatives.
- Adopting the European Union’s Cross Border Directive
The European Union (EU) allows patients to travel abroad for medical care, pay for the procedure, and be reimbursed by their home government. This approach has significantly reduced wait times across Europe.
Implementing a similar policy in Canada would enable patients to seek care in other developed nations, cutting months or years off wait times while still ensuring government coverage for their procedures.
- Activity-Based Funding
Rather than giving hospitals lump-sum budgets, activity-based funding ties funding to the number of patients treated. This model, used successfully in Sweden and Australia, encourages hospitals to increase efficiency and reduce delays rather than rationing care.
- Public-Private Partnerships
Several provinces already contract private clinics to provide publicly funded care. In Saskatchewan, outsourcing some surgeries cut wait times significantly while reducing per-procedure costs by up to 45%. Expanding partnerships with private providers could help alleviate the backlog.
- Better Tracking and Transparency
Many Canadian health regions fail to track how many patients die due to wait times. Implementing mandatory reporting of waitlist deaths would increase accountability and help identify problem areas where reforms could save lives.
What’s Next?
With thousands of Canadians dying on waitlists every year, inaction is no longer an option. The latest data makes it clear: while Canada’s public healthcare system remains highly funded, it is failing to deliver timely care.
Without reform, wait times will continue to grow, and more Canadians will suffer preventable deaths. The question is: will policymakers finally take action before even more lives are lost?
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From the Second Street