More funding alone will not result in shorter waits for patients. In fact, the experience in other jurisdictions has been that more funding sometimes results in longer waits. Adding more resources can lead to patients being added to a wait list who might not otherwise be considered an appropriate candidate for a particular procedure. We recognize long-term changes, such as the development of clearly defined standards for treatment, will help ensure patients get the most appropriate and timely care. The Ministry of Health is working in partnership with physicians to develop standards for safe and acceptable wait times, for a wide range of hospital-based surgeries and procedures.
Standards are already in place for pediatric and heart surgery, as well as cancer treatment.
A panel of orthopedic experts is also developing standards for procedures such as hip and knee replacement surgery. Private health care would reduce wait times in the public system. Overall, wait lists are not shorter in countries that offer private health care. In those countries, patients who are willing to pay to use the private system may wait a shorter time, but the majority of patients who use the public system wait much longer. Doctors in two-tiered systems often provide services in both, but may favor the more lucrative private system.