The Wait Time Alliance (WTA) warns that the absence of a concerted national effort toreducewaittimesisunderminingprogressonaddressingthetimelagsendured by Canadians needing medical care. The 2012 WTA report card, entitled “Shedding Light on Canadians’ Total Wait for Care,” gives Canadians a picture of how long they have to wait to access a broad range of medical procedures and services. In a reversal from past years, the 2012 Report Card shows a decline in performance for patients receiving care in the five areas identified as priorities by federal, provincial, and territorial governments under the 2004 Health Accord. Most efforts to date in Canada have been directed at improving the wait between the specialist consultation and the start of treatment but many Canadians are also waiting to see their family physician, obtain medical tests, and be seen by a specialist.
