In countries with more successful universal systems, patients are free to use private clinics.
healthcare
At the beginning of 2023, at least 645,000 Canadians were waiting for surgery.
According to the court, we must have equal distribution of medical resources, even if that prevents you from obtaining private care that would save your life.
Patients in the province faced a median wait of 33.3 weeks between seeing a general practitioner and receiving treatment.
Canada ranked last among universal health-care countries for specialist appointment waits and receipt of elective surgery.
Canada ranked last on timely access to specialty and surgical care.
More than one million patients in Canada waited almost 20 weeks (on average) for medically necessary care last year.
In 2019, more than 166,000 patients in the province were waiting for treatment after seeing a specialist.
Saskatchewan cut surgical wait times by, among other reforms, partnering with private clinics.
Albertans faced a median wait time of 28 weeks compared to a national average of 20.9 weeks.