Canadian patients turn to medical tourism as wait times mount

By AI, Created 5:11 PM UTC, June 02, 2026, /AGP/ – PlacidWay says more Canadians are researching care abroad as long public wait times, private costs and limited access to specialized treatments push patients to compare options in Mexico, Turkey, South Korea and other countries. The trend spans dental, fertility, bariatric and cosmetic care, with patients weighing provider credentials, follow-up support and total costs before traveling.

Why it matters: - Long wait times and out-of-pocket costs are pushing some Canadian patients to look outside the country for care. - The shift matters most for treatments that are hard to access quickly at home, including dental work, fertility care, bariatric surgery and other specialized services. - PlacidWay says medical tourism research is becoming a structured way for Canadians to compare treatment options, costs and provider quality.

What happened: - PlacidWay Medical Tourism says it is seeing growing Canadian interest in international healthcare options. - The company points to the Fraser Institute’s Waiting Your Turn 2025 report, which puts Canada’s median wait from general practitioner referral to treatment at 28.6 weeks. - The report estimates 1.4 million procedures are pending nationwide. - PlacidWay founder and CEO Pramod Goel said Canadian patients are increasingly using international research to supplement local healthcare options. - Goel said patients are looking for access to specialized healthcare services and treatment options that may not be readily available through traditional care pathways.

The details: - Statistics Canada says 83% of patients who wait more than three months to see a specialist report that the delay affects daily life. - That compares with 44% of patients seen within one month. - Health Canada says one-third of Canadians lack dental insurance. - Many Canadians avoid dental care because of cost. - PlacidWay says Canadian research into medical tourism now extends beyond traditional elective procedures. - The company says patients are evaluating provider qualifications, treatment protocols, costs and follow-up care before traveling. - Goel said these specialized treatments are typically unavailable through the public system. - Goel said patients need to understand clinical protocols, provider credentials, treatment risks and recovery requirements. - PlacidWay says Canadian patients are asking who will perform the procedure, what experience the doctor has, what diagnostics are required, what is included in the package, how long recovery will take, what happens if complications occur, what follow-up support is available after returning to Canada, and which costs are included or separate. - PlacidWay says medical tourism research supplements, rather than replaces, local medical guidance. - The company encourages patients to consult qualified healthcare professionals, verify provider credentials and compare multiple international options before traveling.

Between the lines: - The trend suggests Canadian patients are behaving more like healthcare shoppers, using research to balance access, price and specialization. - The destination list shows demand is spread across a wide range of services, not just cosmetic care. - The emphasis on aftercare and complication planning points to a more cautious approach than a simple price hunt. - The company’s role is part information platform, part referral marketplace, which can make comparison easier for patients facing fragmented options.

What’s next: - PlacidWay expects Canadians to keep comparing destinations as global healthcare options become more visible. - The company says patients should continue reviewing credentials, comparing providers, understanding risks and clarifying aftercare before making travel decisions. - PlacidWay says it will keep offering research tools, destination comparisons, treatment information and direct provider communication to support those decisions.

The bottom line: - Canadian medical tourism is being driven less by novelty and more by access pressure at home, especially for treatments tied to long waits, high costs and limited availability.