Healthcare Wait Times by Country

Understanding and addressing wait times in healthcare systems has become a critical element of patient care and policy planning worldwide. Wait times, defined as the interval between the point at which a patient requires care and the point at which care is received, provide a direct measure of healthcare accessibility and efficiency. Furthermore, prolonged wait times can significantly impact patient outcomes and quality of life, rendering this issue a constant focus of concern and analysis by healthcare institutions, governments, and global organizations like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

• Canada has the most significant proportion of patients waiting more than a day for healthcare, at 33%. This is followed by the United States, with 28% of patients waiting for more than a day.
• European countries Sweden, Norway, and the United Kingdom, all with advanced healthcare systems, still have over 20% of their population waiting for more than a day to receive medical care.
• Countries with lower healthcare wait times, less than 15% of patients waiting for more than a day, include France, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland, suggesting a more efficient healthcare referral or access system.
• Despite being known for their high-quality healthcare systems, neither the US nor UK fare well in this comparison, ranking 2nd and 5th respectively, indicating that system resources, management, or patient volumes may be subjecting patients to longer wait times.