OTTAWA: Further data has surfaced, revealing a deepening crisis in Canada’s healthcare system. A new report indicates that approximately half a million Canadians left emergency departments last year without receiving treatment due to extensive wait times. The number of people leaving hospitals without seeing a doctor due to prolonged waiting periods is increasing annually.
Experts suggest that the growing crisis is pointed toward a severe shortage of staff and family doctors in Canadian hospitals, compounded by a rise in the number of patients waiting for beds in the emergency units.
Many observers state that this critical situation signals a functional breakdown of the healthcare system. The failure to provide timely and necessary care to patients is negatively impacting their health. Meanwhile, in New Brunswick alone, an estimated 60,000 individuals left without treatment last year. Health experts note that this problem is chronic and has been worsening over the years. Although some hospitals are trialing innovative solutions, such as AI technology and private sector contributions, robust, nationwide reforms are required to significantly reduce these long wait times.
