Surgeries delayed in Alberta: Heart, cancer patients in distress

 

 

Doctors and health experts have warned that the long wait times for heart and cancer surgeries in Alberta are worrying. New figures show that the current situation is worse than two years ago.

According to figures from October 2025, only 11 per cent of heart bypass surgeries were performed on time. But six years ago, this was 60 per cent. Many patients have to wait months for bypass surgeries that should normally be done within two weeks.

Cancer surgeries are no different. Only 51 per cent of the five major types of cancer surgeries, including bladder, breast and lung, were performed on time in 2025. This was down from 65 per cent in 2019. Doctors say that delaying surgery can lead to the spread of the disease and complications in treatment.

The Alberta government claims to have achieved a record achievement of performing more than 300,000 surgeries last year. Although the government is planning to use private facilities to reduce waiting lists, critics say this will strain resources at government hospitals. Experts are calling for urgent action before patients' lives are put at risk.