A think tank is calling on governments to act immediately as a shocking number of Canadians died waiting for healthcare in 2024.
At least 15,474 Canadians died last year while waiting for healthcare, but the actual number is probably double, a new study shows.
According to SecondStreet.Org, when the jurisdictions that provide no data are accounted for, the actual number of Canadians who died on wait lists is likely closer to 28,077.
The 15,474 Canadians who died while waiting for healthcare do not include those from Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and most of Manitoba. Additionally, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia only provided data on those who died waiting for surgeries, not diagnostic scans.
“These figures cover everything from cancer treatment and heart operations to cataract surgery and MRI scans,” reads SecondStreet.org’s release.
Since Apr. 2018, SecondStreet confirmed that 74,677 Canadians died while waiting for healthcare.
The organization said that patients died from waiting less than a week for treatment for up to over 14 years.
According to former physician and CEO of RCM Health Dr. Raymond Rupert, Canada’s healthcare system is not set up in such a way that it can meet current capacity needs.
“The system itself appears designed to limit growth and capacity, creating bottlenecks that worsen wait times. We’re seeing a concerning trend where fewer doctors are entering family practice, while existing physicians are taking on smaller patient loads due to burnout and administrative overload. All of this creates a perfect storm that leads to devastating wait times,” Dr. Rupert told True North.
Legislative and Policy Director of SecondStreet.org, Harrison Fleming, said that thousands of Canadians find themselves on waitlists nationwide, oftentimes for several years, with too many dying before ever seeing a doctor.
“Canadians pay really high taxes, and yet our healthcare system is failing when compared to better-performing universal systems in Europe,” said Fleming.
In 2022, Canada’s per capita health spending was $8,119, surpassed only by Sweden and France.
SecondStreet.org highlighted in a policy brief that spending has increased at more than double the rate of inflation since 1993, despite Canada’s plummeting performance.
“It is clear money alone cannot solve this healthcare crisis,” reads the brief.
The 15,474 deaths were calculated between Apr. 1, 2023, and Mar. 31, 2024.
Dr. Rupert told True North that governments need to find the sweet spot when it comes to a mixed public and private healthcare system that plays on the strength of both models.
“The ideal balance between public and private healthcare in Canada isn’t about choosing one over the other – it’s about finding smart ways to combine their strengths. Core medical services should remain publicly funded to maintain universal access, but there’s room for private sector innovation in building capacity and delivering supplementary services, explained Dr. Rupert.
SecondStreet recommended various healthcare reform options for the government to consider.
Among the recommendations were to improve tracking and disclosure, to incentivize output instead of block funding, to allow choice in healthcare through private competition, to partner with non-government clinics, and cross-border directives like those implemented in Europe.
“As a physician with over 40 years of experience and having founded both RCM Health and Healtheon, I strongly agree with these recommendations, though their implementation requires careful consideration,” said Dr. Rupert.
“Regarding incentivizing healthcare output, we need to be thoughtful about implementation. I’ve watched physician productivity decline significantly – average patient rosters dropping from 1,746 to 1,430 – not because doctors lack motivation, but because they’re drowning in administrative work.”
