Think tank estimates over 17,000 deaths due to delayed health care in 2022-23 but warns true figures could be higher
At least 17,032 Canadians died while waiting for surgery or diagnostic scans in the 2022-23 fiscal year, according to a new report by SecondStreet.org.
The think tank, which focuses on public policy reform, warns that the actual number may be higher, as several provinces provided incomplete data or did not track waiting-list deaths at all. When adjusted for non-reporting regions, the estimated total rises to approximately 31,397 deaths.
“The number of Canadians dying on health care waiting lists for surgery or diagnostic scans is at a five-year high,” said Colin Craig, president of SecondStreet.org and co-author of the report. “Only meaningful health reform will reduce patient suffering.”
 Colin Craig |
 Harrison Fleming |
 Report exposes Canada’s deadly health-care crisis: Waitlist deaths soar |
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SecondStreet.org gathered the data through Freedom of Information requests filed with health authorities across Canada. The findings span the fiscal year from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, and include cases of patients waiting for life-saving treatments such as heart surgery and procedures like cataract operations and MRIs. Ontario Health reported 115 deaths in 2023-24 while patients were waiting for cardiac surgeries, up from 101 the previous year. Since 2013, 1,046 patients have died while waiting for cardiac surgery in Ontario.
Inconsistent reporting across provinces complicates the picture. For instance, in New Brunswick, 51 patients died while waiting for surgery in 2023-24, down from 77 the previous year. However, since 2020-21, 248 patients in New Brunswick have died while on waiting lists. These variations underscore the need for a unified approach to tracking data.
“When a restaurant fails a health inspection, the government shares the news publicly and sometimes notices are posted in the establishment’s windows for everyone to see,” said Craig. “But when over 17,000 Canadians have died before getting the care they needed, governments don’t proactively disclose anything.”
The report highlighted specific cases to illustrate the human cost of delays. One Ontario patient required orthopedic surgery in 2009 but never received it. After waiting more than 14 years, the patient passed away. Another case involved a patient who needed a CT scan within 10 days but died over 13 years later without ever receiving it. “These deaths aren’t just statistics. Each one represents a person whose life was cut short and a family left grieving,” Craig said.
According to the report, Canada’s governments spent $5,708 per person on health care in 2023-24 – more than double the inflation-adjusted figure of $1,688 from 1993-94. While Canada is among the highest spenders on health care in the world, the report argues that these expenditures have not translated into better outcomes. “Spending isn’t the issue,” said Harrison Fleming, legislative and policy director at SecondStreet.org. “The inefficiencies in our system are costing lives, plain and simple.”
However, data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) paints a starker picture. CIHI estimates that total health expenditures in Canada, including public and private spending, will reach $372 billion in 2024, or about $9,054 per person. This underscores the scale of Canada’s health-care investment and highlights the gap between spending and results compared to better-performing health systems globally. CIHI data shows that despite higher expenditures, Canada continues to lag in timely access to care and overall efficiency.
To address these issues, SecondStreet.org proposed several reforms:
- Track and disclose deaths: Governments should systematically track waiting-list deaths and report the data publicly, similar to how restaurant health violations are disclosed.
- Adopt activity-based funding: To encourage productivity and efficiency, hospitals should be paid based on services delivered rather than receiving annual block grants.
- Expand access to private care: Allow Canadians to access private health-care options locally, as many European countries do, to relieve pressure on the public system and provide faster alternatives.
- Implement a cross-border directive: Introduce a policy similar to the European Union’s, which would allow patients to seek treatment abroad and be reimbursed up to the cost of local care.
- Partner with private clinics: Leverage private-sector partnerships to provide timely, cost-effective care. For instance, Saskatchewan credits private partnerships with reducing surgical wait times and costs since 2010.
“These are proven solutions that other countries with universal health care have already implemented,” Fleming said. “It’s time for Canada to take a serious look at what’s working elsewhere.”
The report concludes that unless meaningful reforms are implemented, Canada’s health-care system will continue to leave patients untreated and families grieving. “The status quo is not acceptable,” Fleming added. “This is a matter of life and death for thousands of Canadians every year.”
Explore more on Health care, Health care reform, Health care rationing, Health care funding
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