The Canadian Orthopaedic Association spoke to Arctic Radio about the current state of orthopaedic care in the country.

 

President Doctor Kishore Mulpuri says approximately 180 thousand patients are estimated to be on the waiting list to receive elective orthopaedic surgery.

 

Mulpuri states that 28 per cent of graduates of orthopaedic surgery are under employed in Canada, meaning that the health care system could tackle that backlog to a manageable level should they provide more employment opportunties.

 

He explains that while these surgeries are considered elective, addressing this backlog in a timely manner allows patients to return to their normal routines.

 

“It’s quite a significant burden for our health care system and as people use the wrong word like ‘elective surgery’, it’s really not elective if you are in a lot of pain. It’s restorative surgery to put people back into doing their jobs, taking care of their families and living their lives. So that term ‘elective surgery’ is a misnomer.”

 

Mulpuri praised Manitoba for establishing a taskforce intended to address the surgical backlogs in the province, saying that ministries working with health care workers would likely lead to solutions to improve wait times.

 

Listen to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 for the full interview.