Health professionals call for reforms as hospitals across Canada face overcrowding

Hospitals across Canada are facing a crisis due to overcrowding. According to the Canadian Medical Association, despite the tireless efforts of doctors, nurses and other providers, patients in some areas are waiting 20 hours or more for treatment.

The association has requested the help of the provincial governments to deal with the situation. Kathleen Ross, president of the medical association, said that the number of patients with influenza, Covid and respiratory viruses are on the rise, while access to high-quality primary care is low and hospital emergency rooms are becoming overcrowded due to staff shortages.

BC has recorded around 10,000 patients registered in hospitals till Wednesday. The medical association has advised the government to emphasize team-based primary care and said that MPs should make a change in this regard during the winter session so that patients can be immediately referred to other specialists on the basis of medical necessity.

This model is currently applicable in only a few places. The association said that no one wants to have to wait 20 hours for treatment. The report emphasized that the lack of primary care options is putting more pressure on the emergency room.