B.C. unveils strategy to reduce surgical wait times; first focus knee, hip procedures

The B.C. government plans $75 million in funding during the 2018-2019 fiscal year and $100 million in the 12 months following that as part of its four-part strategy to reduce surgical wait times. It points out that in FY2016-2017, 30% of hip surgery patients and 38% of knee surgery patients waited more than 26 weeks. The first component includes five hip and knee replacement programs implemented throughout the province. This, the provincial government contends, will increase the number of procedures each year by 34%, to 19,250.