Home / Health / Canadians Fund Own Hip Ops Abroad Amid Wait Times
Canadians Fund Own Hip Ops Abroad Amid Wait Times
26 Sep
Summary
- Couple funded $25,000 private hip surgery in Montreal.
- Long wait times push Canadians to pay for care themselves.
- Wait times for hip replacements in P.E.I. are improving slightly.
Neil and Janet Payne, from Kinkora, P.E.I., bypassed a lengthy public wait for Neil's hip replacement by financing $25,000 for private surgery in Montreal. The couple utilized a line of credit, impacting their retirement plans, to address Neil's severe osteoarthritis pain, which had significantly reduced his mobility and quality of life.
Their experience reflects a broader issue in Canada, where extended wait times for medical procedures compel individuals to pay for care privately, often incurring substantial debt. This trend affects people across various income brackets, not just the wealthy, according to research by SecondStreet.org.
Health P.E.I. noted some improvements in wait times for hip replacements, with median waits decreasing slightly to 276 days in the first quarter of 2026-27. However, these times remain longer than national benchmarks, despite increased surgical volumes.
Experts suggest reforms like public funding following patients, rather than being tied to institutions, could foster competition and improve efficiency within the healthcare system. This model, seen in some European countries, could reduce administrative waste and incentivize better patient care.
