Renowned for its lively culture, scenic surroundings, and multicultural environment, Montreal is a Canadian leader in healthcare quality. However, despite Montreal’s healthcare system being equipped with cutting-edge technology and highly qualified staff, patients and healthcare providers frequently suffer greatly as a result of lengthy waitlists.
The mismatch between the demand and supply for healthcare services in Montreal is one of the main reasons for long waitlists. As of this year, the average wait time in emergency rooms has been mostly unchanged, remaining at five hours and thirteen minutes. The aging population and the city’s expanding population have put pressure on healthcare facilities’ ability to provide prompt care. This has been personally experienced by a Cree elder, Bella Moses Petawabano, who faced challenges and discrimination while seeking medical care at a Montreal emergency room. Petawabano, who was visiting Montreal for medical treatment, experienced discomfort and mistreatment due to language barriers and cultural differences. Despite her granddaughter’s efforts to advocate for her, Petawabano endured a long wait and felt marginalized by healthcare staff.
Another main factor alongside lengthy wait times is the healthcare system’s administrative inefficiencies. Difficult administrative procedures, voluminous documentation, and disjointed correspondence among medical professionals often causes delays in scheduling appointments and diagnostic testing. In addition, these administrative obstacles reduce the effectiveness of healthcare services as a whole. While it is impossible to overestimate the effects of lengthy wait periods on patients, delays in seeking medical attention can worsen pre-existing diseases. This can lead to a lower quality of life, and raises mortality rates among patients. Patients waiting for longer time periods may also experience increased levels of stress, annoyance, and doubt about their medical condition and the treatments available. For example, a Concordia student claims that on June 14, 2024, he went to the Glen Emergency Room due to severe gastrointestinal pain and fever. During his fifteen-hour stay, nurses gave him Tylenol and checked on him only twice. Due to the inadequate care, his parents transported him to their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, a three-hour drive away, out of deep concern for his health. It was ultimately found that his appendix had burst. As a result, he remained in the intensive care unit for the majority of his ten day stay in the hospital. This a simple yet all-too-common situation that could have been avoided with proper care and attention.
Furthermore, the cost of lengthy wait times falls not only on patients but also on healthcare personnel, who must resolve the moral conundrum of deciding which patients to prioritize when resources are scarce. Depending on the severity of the patient’s illness, doctors and nurses must frequently make difficult decisions on how to allocate resources. The stress of handling these moral conundrums might lead to burnout in medical staff and further lower the quality of care provided. Thus, long wait times in Montreal’s healthcare system must be addressed using a multimodal strategy that includes a robust resource allocation system, legislative reform, and innovative healthcare delivery. Increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure, such as the expansion of medical facilities and the recruitment of additional healthcare professionals, can serve to alleviate capacity constraints and reduce wait times.
By embracing a patient-centered approach that prioritizes equitable access, continuity of care, and proactive disease prevention, Montreal can mitigate the impact of long waiting times and improve the overall health outcomes of its residents. Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to patient-centered care, the city can uphold its reputation as a leader in healthcare excellence while advancing the health and well-being of its diverse population.
Edited by Isaac Yong
Angie Gjika is a passionate writer contributing to Catalyst. She is currently immersed in her 4th year of studies at McGill University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a major in International Development Studies and a minor in Sociology. Angie is particularly interested in politics of the Middle East, the Balkans and transitional justice!