Ontario Government to Reduce Wait Times for GI Endoscopy Procedures
The Ontario government has announced a new initiative to reduce wait times for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy procedures. According to the announcement, the government is opening a call for applications for new licences, with the aim of issuing these licences starting in Winter 2025. This initiative is expected to connect nearly 60,000 more people to GI endoscopy procedures each year.
This move is part of a broader effort to improve access to surgeries and diagnostic imaging across the province. The government has also launched similar initiatives to increase access to MRI and CT scans, aiming to connect nearly 100,000 more people to these services annually. A third call for applications is planned for the fall to expand access to orthopedic surgeries.
The new community surgical and diagnostic centres are part of the 'Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care' initiative. These centres are expected to help Ontario maintain its status as the province with the shortest surgical wait times in Canada. As of July 2024, over 80% of people in Ontario received their procedures within clinically recommended target times.
Other recent government actions include funding up to 65,568 MRI and 31,220 CT operating hours in existing community surgical and diagnostic centres, adding 49 new MRI machines in 42 hospitals, and funding 32,000 eye surgery procedures at community surgical and diagnostic centres. The government has also eliminated the backlog of cervical cancer screening tests as of August 2023, with testing turnaround times returning to the pre-pandemic standard of 10 to 14 days.
All new community surgical and diagnostic centres will be required to provide detailed staffing plans to protect the stability of staffing resources at public hospitals. They will also need to report into the province's wait times information system and participate in regional central intakes to ensure timely access to care.
