How Many Canadians Travel Abroad for Medical Treatments?
Canadians are known to hit the road, travelling for pleasure or, more recently, medical care. The number of Canadian patients who are leaving their home country or province to seek out treatment or surgical procedures has been on the incline, but just how many is that?
With medical tourism on the rise, more and more institutes have been polling patients by the numbers to determine not only if they’ve participated in medical travel but also why they left in the first place. It’s estimated that more than 50,000 Canadians chose to seek medical care abroad as recently as 2022. This number has since increased, and that doesn’t include the number of patients who decided to visit another province.
Health Care Abroad: Medical Tourism by the Numbers
In a study by the Fraser Institute, it’s estimated that more than 50,000 Canadians chose to travel abroad in search of medical procedures or services in 2022 alone. Between 2017 and 2021, Canadians spent an estimated 2.3 billion dollars on medical care outside their home country.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a shortage of available nurses, general practitioners and accessible medical facilities. This global event changed the face of standard medical services in every country, and in Canada, there are now 6.5 million Canadians lacking access to a regular family doctor. With an overwhelmed medical system, non-emergency surgeries are being delayed or even cancelled. This includes hip, knee and even back surgeries.
A lack of medical services makes it more difficult to secure the necessary referrals and tests. It can take weeks or months to see a specialist and then weeks after that to get scans, followed by months of waiting for an actual procedure. The average wait time for medical services has surpassed 30 weeks.
The majority of Canadians receiving medical care abroad are doing so to bypass these long wait times or to seek care that might not be readily available at home. Depending on the nature of a procedure, some Canadians can secure scans and schedule procedures within a couple of weeks.
Why Do So Many Canadians Seek Care Abroad?
Canada is home to a very diverse population. Travelling abroad for medical or surgical care might be as simple as taking a trip to visit relatives and adding a procedure near the end. For those patients seeking medical care in a familiar place, this can also alleviate the stress of managing aftercare, recovery and rehabilitation.
Necessary procedures in Canada are often provided with little to no direct cost, but there are many associated costs to be concerned about. For patients dealing with mobility issues or chronic pain, it can play a significant role in the ability to work and keep up with common tasks like commuting, or caring for pets and children. This means having to pay for services that would normally be done themselves.
Simplified Medical Tourism: Working With an Agency
Agencies like Venture Surgical help to connect Canadian patients looking to seek medical care abroad with reputable physicians, surgical teams and facilities. Destinations will depend on the type of procedure needed, the wants of patients and the overall budget. Work with an agency to explore options for insurance coverage, funding and travel planning.
Agents at Venture Surgical will review existing medical reports and patient records, determining which specialists and facilities best suit your needs. Access to the latest in remote communication makes it possible to speak face to face with your medical team, tour facilities, and share medical records before scheduling procedures.
Whether you are looking to travel from one province to another or are scheduling international medical care, Venture Surgical will guide you through the process.
