New health data has shown that wait times for major surgeries in Canada remain significantly longer compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, amid increasing pressures on health systems across various provinces.

According to a report published by CTV News, many patients across the country are still facing long delays in receiving critical medical procedures, such as hip or knee replacement surgeries, heart operations, and cancer-related treatments.

Regional Disparities and Growing Concerns

The data indicated that there are significant disparities in wait times among provinces, with some areas recording longer wait times than others, raising growing concerns about exacerbating disparities in access to essential healthcare.

The Canadian Association of Surgeons stated that this ongoing delay could lead to a deterioration in patients' health, delaying their recovery and increasing their psychological and physical burdens.

Pre-pandemic Levels Have Yet to Be Restored

Despite some improvements in managing surgeries and medical qualifications after years of the pandemic, wait times remain above the national average that was established before 2020, raising questions about the health system's ability to fully recover amid a shortage of medical staff and increasing demand.

Calls for Accelerating Reforms

Health experts have called for expanding regional surgery programs and increasing investment in human resources and medical technologies to narrow the time gap between the need for treatment and its delivery.