Ontario outsourcing of medical procedures linked to rising patient wait times
What happened
A study found that increasing the outsourcing of surgeries and imaging to private for-profit clinics in Ontario has resulted in rising patient wait times for many procedures. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, median wait times for eight of 12 priority procedures increased between 2017 and 2025. For example, MRI scan wait times rose from 35 days in 2017 to 47 days in 2025.
From cp24.com
Why it matters
The findings challenge the rationale that greater outsourcing of procedures would significantly reduce wait times. The policy shift toward private, for-profit delivery in Ontario increases systemic costs and strains public capacity.
Systemwide healthcare costs are rising faster than funding in Ontario.
From cp24.com
Who's involved
- OntarioThe location where outsourcing practices are occurring
- Canadian Institute for Health InformationProvided information on the health system trends
- Doug FordPremier of Ontario, whose government rationale is challenged
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- Trillium Health PartnersSpeculative
Trillium Health Partners could face challenges regarding funding stability as outsourcing reduces public hospital volume.
- hospitalSpeculative
A hospital could face challenges regarding funding stability as outsourcing reduces public hospital volume.
How this reaches others
Each traced step by step, with the reporting behind itKeep exploring
The entities involved
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Ontario
city in San Bernardino County, California, United States