Foundation Health today released its new report, A System Under Strain: The State of Geriatric Wait Times in Canada and Ontario, and a Path to Resiliency, revealing that Canada is a low performer among G7 nations in its supply of geriatricians, a critical finding that sheds light on the growing crisis in senior healthcare access. The analysis shows Canada ranks sixth out of seven, trailing far behind its peers in the number of geriatric specialists available to its senior population.
The report, which examines the state of geriatric wait times in Canada with a focus on Ontario, cites estimates from Regional Geriatrics Programs that average wait times for an initial consultation can exceed 30 weeks, and can be as high as 12 months in the GTA. This links the long waits directly to a severe national shortage of geriatric doctors.
While the national planning benchmark recommends 12.5 geriatricians per 100,000 seniors, Canada currently has a ratio of approximately 5.7. This places the country just above Japan and well below the United Kingdom (~18.3), France (~17.4), and Germany (~19.0).
“Canada’s low ranking is unacceptable and a clear indicator of a systemic failure to plan for our aging population,” said Sandy White, Co-Founder of Foundation Health. “The long wait times and growing burden on our healthcare system are a direct consequence of this specialist shortage. We are essentially asking our seniors to wait months for care that is readily available in other G7 countries.”
The Foundation Health report also details how this national shortage is felt acutely in Ontario, where regional disparities are stark. The province has 238 practicing geriatricians licenced with the CPSO, with the majority concentrated in major urban centers like Toronto. This leaves vast regions, particularly Northern Ontario, with a critically low number of specialists to serve their senior populations.
"As a geriatrician, I see firsthand the devastating impact these delays have on patients and their families," said Dr. Rikitha Menezes, a geriatrician with Foundation Health. "Patients are waiting for months, yet clinics like mine have open appointments. The tragedy is that we have the capacity to help, but the outdated fax-and-hope referral system is failing to connect us with the seniors who need our care. Timely access to a geriatrician can prevent falls, manage chronic conditions, and reduce avoidable hospitalizations, but only if we can find each other."
The report identifies a fragmented referral system, reliant on outdated technologies like fax machines, as another major contributor to the crisis, exacerbating the problem of limited supply. Without a centralized, province-wide directory, patients and their primary care providers struggle to find available specialists, leading to inefficiency and further delays.
Key Findings from the Report
- • G7 Ranking: Canada ranks second to last among G7 nations for its geriatrician-to-senior population ratio, trailing behind countries such as the UK, France, and Germany.
- • National Shortfall: Canada's ratio of 5.7 geriatricians per 100,000 seniors falls significantly below the national benchmark of 12.5.
- • Ontario's Imbalance: Within Ontario, geriatricians are heavily concentrated in a few urban areas, leaving a critical supply gap in other regions.
- • Foundation Health is urging government and healthcare leaders to take immediate action to address this national challenge. The report outlines the following key recommendations:
- Increase Funding and Incentives: Increase funding for geriatric residency programs and incentivize specialists to work in underserved regions to address the critical supply gap.
- Fix the Referral System: Invest in a modern, fully funded, and transparent e-Referral system to ensure all Canadians have equitable access to timely senior care and to eliminate administrative inefficiencies.
About Foundation Health
Foundation Health is a Canadian health and wellness company with a mission to help people live healthier for longer. Evolving from its roots as an online retailer, the company has grown into a multidisciplinary service provider focused on modernizing primary care. Its patient-centered model aims to address shrinking access, long wait times, and physician burnout by offering a team-based approach that includes primary care, home and senior care, and allied health services. Foundation Health opened its first medical clinic in Etobicoke in November 2024 and plans for a nationwide expansion. The company uses a full-practice-management model and a curated technology stack to allow physicians to focus on patient care in a supported, collaborative, and privacy-compliant environment.
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Media Contact:
Adam Singfield
adam@foundationhealth.ca
403-629-4129
newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com
Source: 38 Digital Market News
Release ID: 1827299
