OTTAWA — Wait times are a becoming a critical issue for patients, and the doctors providing them with the procedures and treatments needed, according to the Canadian Medical Association president.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information published a new update on wait times during the first 18 months of the pandemic. This recent information confirms the Canadian Medical Association urgent call for the government of Canada to address the backlogs in care.
According to the Canadian Medical Association, “The effects of backlogs in procedures and treatments have a profound impact on patients and on the health care system at large.”
In her own statement, Dr. Katherine Smart, president, Canadian Medical Association, expressed her concerns. “The repercussions will be felt for years to come, she said. It is important to devise a plan now to keep patients' conditions from worsening. Now is the time not only for provincial governments to make this a priority, but also for the federal government to provide the funding needed to bring wait times back down to a reasonable level.”
Taking care of their patients in a timely manner has always been a priority of physicians across the Canada, which is something that Dr. Smart extends her thanks and appreciation for. “. Let us not forget that, behind all these backlogs, there are people suffering. It is high time we took bold systemic action to finally give Canadians the care they deserve.”