‘The surgical program is now well-positioned to achieve a six-month wait time target for most surgeries set for 2025–26’
The government of Saskatchewan is investing $15.1 million to reduce surgical wait times in the province.
Surgical demand continues to rise, with bookings increasing by four per cent annually since 2022–23, up from 1.5 per cent before the pandemic, according to the government. Initiatives such as the new Breast Health Centre are helping to improve coordination and accelerate access to cancer care, it said.
"By streamlining processes and focusing on patient-centred care, we have improved access and reduced the length of time all patients must wait for surgery,” says Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Chief Operating Officer Derek Miller. “These enhancements are helping patients get the care they need sooner and strengthening the surgical system for the future."
The funding—allocated under the 2025–26 Provincial Budget—will also help expand capacity and foster innovation. Specifically, it includes:
- $12.9 million to increase surgical volumes and capacity in 2025–26;
- $2 million for Saskatchewan’s robot-assisted surgery program to support expansion to Regina Pasqua Hospital and perform up to 600 more robot-assisted procedures; and
- $1 million for surgical service enhancements to improve coordination of care for back surgery and pain management for hospitalised patients.
"As we continue to advance surgical care in Saskatchewan, we are focused on improving access and reducing wait times, all while maintaining the highest standards of quality,” says Saskatchewan Health Authority Provincial Head of Surgery Dr. Michael Kelly. “This progress is made possible by the exceptional commitment of our health care providers and physicians who work tirelessly every day to provide timely, high-quality care to patients across the province.”
In early 2024, in a bid to allow patients to get the surgeries and treatment they need in a more timely manner, Ontario tapped an assessment body as the inspection body that will oversee community surgical and diagnostic centres.
450,000 surgeries
Saskatchewan’s plan to increase surgical volumes will span the next four years, with the province committed to delivering 450,000 surgeries to significantly reduce the number of patients waiting for procedures.
The number of procedures now includes surgical interventions performed outside of operating rooms, such as cardiac catheterisation and interventional radiology, which are conducted in specially equipped treatment rooms—providing a more accurate reflection of the total number of surgical procedures being performed, according to the province.
Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, a total of 100,406 surgeries and procedures were performed.
The health system also exceeded its target of completing 90 per cent of surgeries within eight months, achieving nearly 92 per cent within that timeframe.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has “nearly eliminated” the list of patients waiting longer than 24 months for their procedures. The number of people waiting longer than 12 months has decreased by 24 per cent over the past year.
"Saskatchewan’s health care system is delivering on the commitment to improve access to surgical care through investments and setting aggressive targets,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill says. “Annual budget investments have helped to stabilise system capacity and lay the groundwork for even greater progress in the years ahead. The surgical program is now well-positioned to achieve a six-month wait time target for most surgeries set for 2025–26. We are thankful to our surgical teams for their hard work and dedication to benefit patients.”
Canadians waiting to have their health issues addressed are losing a significant amount in the process. Specifically, people waiting for medically necessary treatment lost an estimated $5.2 billion in productivity in 2024, reported the Fraser Institute.
Medical wait times have been costing workers billions for years. In 2024, the federal and Ontario governments signed a $3.1-billion, 10-year deal that will make major enhancements to the health care system in the province, including addressing the wait times issue.
