Kerman University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Health Policy and Management 2322-5939 14 1 2025 12 01 Addressing Healthcare Waiting Time Challenges in Canada: Insights From Emerging Initiatives 1 5 4790 10.34172/ijhpm.8986 EN Mohammad Hajizadeh School of Health Administration, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada 0000-0002-4591-8531 Faramarz Jalili School of Health Administration, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada 0000-0002-9344-8941 Journal Article 2025 01 10 Canada’s public healthcare system faces persistent challenges with waiting times. Prolonged delays lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, higher treatment costs, and economic burdens for patients and families. This editorial examines the drivers of extended wait times and policy responses at both provincial and federal levels. Contributing factors include systemic features of the Canadian healthcare system, such as shared federal–provincial jurisdiction, along with staffing shortages, population aging, structural inefficiencies, and poorly integrated health information technology. Provinces have introduced strategies such as digital health solutions, capacity expansion, workforce innovations (including Physician Assistants [PAs]), and expanded scopes of practice for pharmacists. At the federal level, a 10-year $196.1 billion investment announced in 2023 is supporting these initiatives. While such measures indicate progress, wait times remain a significant concern. Achieving equitable and timely access will require coordinated and sustained strategies that address systemic challenges and deliver long-term improvements.

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