Canadians continue to face lengthy delays for medically necessary health care, with patients waiting an average of more than six months from a family doctor referral to treatment, according to a new national study — a reality experts say has become the defining feature of the country’s health-care system.

The Fraser Institute’s report found that, in 2025, Canadian patients waited a median of 28.6 weeks from a general practitioner referral to treatment. While that marks a slight improvement from 30.0 weeks in 2024, it remains the second-longest wait time ever recorded in the study’s 34-year history.

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“Remarkably long wait times for medically necessary care have become the defining characteristic of the Canadian health-care experience,” said Nadeem Esmail, director o

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