Canada — hip replacement
Reported Result68% within 6 months
InterpretationA substantial minority waited beyond the recommended benchmark.
Wait Times: What the Evidence Does and Does Not Show
Selected evidence illustrating that universal coverage does not eliminate capacity constraints and that wait-time performance varies among services and health systems.
Last updated: September 22, 2026#universal-healthcare#healthcare#wait-times#Canada#healthcare-capacity#physician-shortage
Canada — knee replacement
Reported Result61% within 6 months
InterpretationWait-time performance remained below the pre-pandemic benchmark level.
Canada — cataract surgery
Reported Result69% within 112 days
InterpretationMost patients received surgery within the benchmark, while a substantial minority did not.
Canada — radiation therapy
Reported Result94% within 28 days
InterpretationMost patients received treatment within the benchmark.
Canada — hip-fracture repair
Reported Result83% within 48 hours
InterpretationMost patients received treatment within the benchmark, while a meaningful minority did not.
United States — projected physician capacity
Reported Result141,160 FTE shortage by 2038
InterpretationThe United States faces projected capacity constraints independently of whether universal coverage is adopted.
| System / Measure | Reported Result | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Canada — hip replacement | 68% within 6 months | A substantial minority waited beyond the recommended benchmark. |
| Canada — knee replacement | 61% within 6 months | Wait-time performance remained below the pre-pandemic benchmark level. |
| Canada — cataract surgery | 69% within 112 days | Most patients received surgery within the benchmark, while a substantial minority did not. |
| Canada — radiation therapy | 94% within 28 days | Most patients received treatment within the benchmark. |
| Canada — hip-fracture repair | 83% within 48 hours | Most patients received treatment within the benchmark, while a meaningful minority did not. |
| United States — projected physician capacity | 141,160 FTE shortage by 2038 | The United States faces projected capacity constraints independently of whether universal coverage is adopted. |
Notes
Wait-time evidence should not be used to claim either that universal systems inherently produce long waits or that universal coverage eliminates waits. Waiting depends on capacity, demand, specialty, geography, payment design and system management. The Canadian measures shown here concern specific priority procedures and should not be generalized to every form of Canadian healthcare.
Sources
[524]Health Resources and Services Administration
Physician Workforce: Projections, 2023-2038
Primarygovernment report
View source →[534]Canadian Institute for Health Information
Wait Times for Priority Procedures in Canada, 2025
Primaryhealth system data
View source →