The Impact of Covid-19 on Global Waiting Lists
In the wake of the current global outbreak of COVID-19 The global waitlist has grown to an all-time high. A lot of people are without access to physiotherapists or surgeons and their health is negatively affected. The delays have placed immense stress on health care systems. It has led to a rising number of initiatives to ease the burden. These initiatives have been focused on reducing the wait time of patients. However, a lack data, a poor policy and personal preferences have all hindered efforts.
The Ministry of Health - Canada
The Ministry of Health, Canada's successor since 1968, requested an investigation into waiting lists. While these studies showed that the wait times for routine procedures were much lower than from other nations, both the government as well as the medical profession was unable to put them into practice. They expressed the possibility about waiting list manipulation manipulative and the need to improve the process. Contrary to this it is noted that the United States' waiting list average is seven years more than the UK's.
In a recent survey, Finland revealed an average wait duration in the range of 1.5 years. The findings of these surveys found a huge gap between demand and supply across the nation. In the rural regions waiting lists were longer than those in cities with the median being around five months. Furthermore, some countries established minimum wait time in order to have cataract surgery. For many Americans waiting for three months is not unusual. In Denmark the average waiting period was more than six years, which makes them the second-most difficult illness to treat.
British Ministry of Health
The issue wait lists have posed a challenge to health policy for a long time. The fact that waiting time was longer in certain countries than others was enough to spur policy change. In Britain the Ministry of health signed an agreement with 4 Seattle hospitals to offer the ophthalmic procedure. This arrangement allowed patients to undergo surgery more efficiently and has dramatically improved standards in British healthcare services. The government is currently focused on expanding the accessibility in medical facilities.
Hip and Knee Replacements
The number of people who are on the waiting list for surgery has hit a record with the median wait time for hip replacements and knee replacements, as well as other procedures falling under two weeks. The only minor and emergency procedures have shorter wait times. Pandemic disruptions also have reduced the number of patients on the lists. In the end, the number of people on these lists has nearly two times as large. It is now impossible to provide proper medical attention to the patients in a planet that is extremely sick and so large.
The Commonwealth Fund
In 2016 The Commonwealth Fund reported that the number of people who are on waiting lists is higher in Canada than every other nation. In Canada for instance there are the highest number of people waiting to see a doctor. This means for many they are in danger due to absence of access to experts. Most people have no option other than to seek the most appropriate treatment. This is made worse due to the inability of these countries to locate experts.
The number of patients who are on the global waiting lists has increased slightly over the past few years, with a particular increase for elective surgery. The number of patients who are on wait lists was greater in Canada as compared to Australia. Although they had fewer people the number of patients who were on waiting lists around the world was more than within the United States. A recent study revealed that the amount of elective surgical patients who were on these lists was restricted to a handful of hospitals. Although the majority of patients listed are over 50, they aren't mobile enough.
World Wait List Times
The number of patients waiting on the waiting list for treatment in the world is lower than the waiting list for the US. In turn, the amount of patients who are admitted for treatment is more than Denmark. Therefore, there are millions who are affected by the global waiting durations. If you're listed be aware that the wait time for the specific procedure is less than the standard in your own country. There is no age-related variation. That means that you won't need to wait longer than your peers. If you're an older and have a medical condition, you may ask your physician about your particular situation.
While amount of patients waiting to receive elective treatment is increasing, the worldwide waiting duration for elective procedures has been reduced by a significant amount. There have been notable rises in the number of patients who have less than one year's worth of waiting. For instance, in the United States, the median wait time for elective procedure is nearly two-thirds of global average. It is currently the norm waiting times for surgery are shorter than those in Denmark.
If you are on a waiting list in any country, you have the option of going to a another country for your procedure with no referral required. We can help you plan your entire itinerary including preparing your onsite treatment plan or virtual second opinion. Our services are free for patients.
