Median wait times from referral to treatment in Canada 1993 and 2023, by specialty
From 1993 to 2023, the waiting time between a referral by a general practitioner and medical treatment increased in Canada. In 1993, regardless of specialty, the median waiting time stood around nine weeks. By 2023, the waiting time had nearly tripled and reached just under 28 weeks. Furthermore, waiting times varied greatly by specialty. In 2023, it took someone seeking plastic surgery over 52 weeks to receive treatment after receiving a referral from a general practitioner.
