Canada’s healthcare system is facing mounting pressure, and the consequences are increasingly measured in lives lost. According to data compiled by SecondStreet.org, a non-profit think tank analyzing government policies, 23,746 patients died while on waitlists for surgeries or diagnostic scans between April 2024 and March 2025. This represents a 3% increase compared to the previous year, highlighting that the issue is not isolated but systemic.

Provincial Breakdown

• Ontario: Over 10,600 deaths, many of which occurred before patients even reached diagnostic stages.

• Other provinces: Similar patterns were observed across Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, with delays particularly acute in cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, and imaging services.

• Historical context: Since April 2018, more than 100,000 Canadians have died while waiting for care, showing the long-term scale of the crisis.

Why Wait Times Matter

The Fraser Institute’s 2025 “Waiting Your Turn” report found that the median wait time between referral and treatment was 28.6 weeks, down slightly from 30 weeks in 2024 but still among the longest in the developed world. These delays not only prolong suffering but can also worsen medical outcomes, particularly for time-sensitive conditions like heart disease and cancer.

Systemic Challenges

Researchers caution that the reported numbers may underestimate the true toll, as not all provinces provide complete data. The findings raise urgent questions about:

• Resource allocation – Are hospitals and diagnostic centers adequately funded?

• Healthcare capacity – Is Canada’s system equipped to handle rising demand?

• Accountability – Who is responsible for ensuring patients receive timely care?

Calls for Reform

Health policy experts argue that Canada must address structural inefficiencies, including:

• Expanding surgical and diagnostic capacity.

• Improving transparency in provincial reporting.

• Exploring alternative delivery models, such as public-private partnerships, to reduce bottlenecks.

Bottom Fact: Prolonged medical wait times in Canada contributed to over 23,700 deaths nationwide from April 2024 to March 2025.

Sources:

• SecondStreet.org – Canada Waits data and annual report on healthcare delays

• National News Canada – Coverage of 23,746 deaths due to wait times

• The Hub – Analysis of provincial data on waitlist deaths

• Fraser Institute – Waiting Your Turn 2025 report on median wait times

Disclaimer: These figures are estimates based on available provincial data. Actual numbers may be higher due to incomplete reporting.