Clear information on every surgical route in Canada — before you spend months on a list.
Clear, independent information on surgical procedures available through your provincial health plan, private clinics across Canada, and accredited hospitals abroad — so you can choose the fastest safe route to your operation.
Choose a specialty to see the surgeries covered.
Free to use. We are an information and referral service — we do not provide medical care.
Most Canadians only ever hear about one route: the public wait list. You have three. Each has different costs, timelines and rules — and the rules vary by province.
Treatment in a public hospital, covered by your provincial or territorial health plan.
Faster access through private surgical clinics operating across several provinces.
Have your operation at an accredited hospital outside Canada, often at a fraction of domestic private prices.
Every category below reflects procedures performed in Canadian hospitals and clinics. Individual guides cover what the surgery involves, recovery, typical wait times, private costs and out-of-country options.
Wait times, private clinic access and out-of-country rules differ in every jurisdiction. Our guides show the picture for yours.
Living in Quebec? A dedicated French-language service for Quebec residents is on the way. Surgery Centre serves all other provinces and territories.
You don’t lose your place on the public list by exploring other routes. Getting quotes costs nothing — and knowing all three timelines puts the decision back in your hands.
See your family doctor or nurse practitioner. A confirmed diagnosis and imaging are the starting point for every route.
Find the realistic wait for your procedure in your province — from referral to specialist to operating room.
Get fixed quotes from private clinics in Canada and accredited hospitals abroad, with dates in weeks instead of months.
Check private insurance, provincial out-of-country funding where eligible, and the Medical Expense Tax Credit on eligible costs.
The median wait from family doctor referral to treatment in Canada is now more than six months — and for hip and knee surgery it can stretch close to a year.
See the realistic timeline for your procedure in your province, and what the alternatives would cost.
Compare your options*Median wait from GP referral to treatment across 12 specialties, 2025. Orthopedic surgery: 48.6 weeks. Source: Fraser Institute, Waiting Your Turn 2025. Waits vary by procedure and province.
Private surgical clinics operate in several provinces, and Canadians are free to pay for surgery in another province or outside Canada. The rules on what clinics can offer to local residents differ by province — our procedure guides explain what applies where you live.
Only in limited cases. Provincial out-of-country programs can fund treatment abroad with prior approval — generally where the treatment isn’t available in Canada or can’t be provided within a medically acceptable time. Most patients who travel for elective surgery self-fund, and eligible costs may qualify for the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit.
No. Requesting quotes or consultations from private clinics or hospitals abroad does not affect your place on a public wait list. You only come off the list if you have the surgery elsewhere or ask to be removed.
The national median wait from family doctor referral to treatment was 28.6 weeks in 2025 — over six months — with orthopedic surgery at 48.6 weeks and large differences between provinces. Our guides show typical waits per procedure and province, alongside private and out-of-country timelines.
Quebec residents will be served by a dedicated French-language sister service, built to meet Quebec’s French-language requirements. Surgery Centre covers all other provinces and territories.
No. Surgery Centre is an independent information and referral service. We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada, Health Canada, or any provincial or territorial ministry of health or health authority. We help you understand your options and connect you with accredited providers; all coverage and funding decisions rest with your provincial plan.