Ontario Reduces Wait Time for Orthopedic Surgeries

July 2, 2025

Ontario is investing $125 million to increase access to publicly funded orthopedic surgeries—like hip and knee replacements—in community surgical centres over the next two years. The goal: to ensure that 90 per cent of patients receive these surgeries within clinically recommended timeframes.

Key Initiatives

• Major Investment into Orthopedic Surgery Capacity
  • A $125 million injection to support up to 20,000 additional publicly funded surgeries over two years .
• Expansion in Community Surgical Centres
  • Funding will help license and scale services at community-based surgical centres, aiming to open more local facilities by early 2026.
• Open Call for Applications
  • A call for new center applications runs from July 2 to August 27, 2025, with license approvals expected in early 2026.
• Honouring Provincial Performance Benchmarks
  • Building on Ontario’s top ranking in Canada for achieving shortest wait times for surgeries like hip and knee replacements—over 83 % already meet target.
• Integrated Health-care System Investments
  • Complements a recent $155 million boost for community diagnostic centres (MRI, CT, endoscopy) and $235 million for primary care expansion.
• Quality & Access Safeguards
  • Community centres must adhere to Accreditation Canada standards and ensure insured services remain free and fairly available to patients.

Ontario continues its strategy under “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care”, expanding accessible surgery in local settings, reducing hospital congestions, and improving patient convenience. The initiative not only speeds up care delivery but also strengthens system resilience with enhanced diagnostic and primary care support.

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