Dear John,

I’m Bacchus Barua, the Director of Health Policy Studies here at the Fraser Institute.

Our mission is simple: to measure the performance of our healthcare system and explore ways to offer better universal healthcare for all Canadians.

One area where our research has made waves this year is in exposing the hidden costs of long wait times in Canada’s healthcare system – costs that go beyond the pain and suffering patients in Canada are forced to endure.

According to one of our studies, long waits for surgery and medical treatment cost Canadians almost $3.5 billion in lost wages and productivity during working hours last year alone.

That’s money out of the pockets of hard-working Canadians – money that could have gone toward supporting their families, saving for the future, or simply enjoying life.

And things have only gotten worse.

According to our most recent annual survey of physicians – released just last week – the median wait time between referral by a family doctor to treatment is now 30 weeks. Not only is this wait longer than the 27.7 week wait patients faced last year, this year’s estimate is the longest wait time recorded in our survey’s more than 30-year history!

Our study shows that these wait times aren’t just minor inconveniences - they have real financial impacts on Canadians. And of course, long waits for surgical care can also have physical and emotional consequences. In the absence of timely treatment, physical illness can progress, worsening patient health to the point of disability and even death.

Despite this doom and gloom, there is reason for optimism!

Poll after poll shows that Canadian patients are frustrated with their healthcare system and have an appetite for change.

This is in no small part thanks to the work of our healthcare team here at the Fraser Institute!

We publish studies showing how Canada can learn from other countries who maintain their universal coverage while delivering healthcare faster than in Canada.

Our studies dominated headlines in newspapers all across the country this year. Our team appeared on countless TV and radio interviews, and our work reached millions of people via our website and social media accounts.

We are clearly having an impact - but we can’t continue without your help.

If you value the work we do, and believe that all Canadians deserve a better universal healthcare system, I’d like to ask you to consider making a donation to the Fraser Institute [[link removed][campaignid]] today.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

From all of us here at Fraser, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Bacchus Barua

Director, Health Policy Studies

The Fraser Institute

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