A Red Deer, Alberta woman says the wait for a critical MRI is now 31 months, sparking fears about the province's healthcare system.
Linda Burns, a senior living with chronic pain after spinal fusion surgery, received a letter from Alberta Health Services scheduling her MRI for December 2028. Her doctor suspects disk degeneration in her neck, but the scan is needed to confirm.
"The pain is excruciating," Burns said, describing how it affects daily tasks like grocery shopping.
Health advocates point to the provincial government's push for a two-tier system, with Bill 11 allowing doctors to work in both public and private systems. Critics argue this creates a system where those who can pay skip the queue.
"We regularly hear from people told it'll be two years for an MRI, but if you pay, you could get it in weeks," said Chris Gallaway of Friends of Medicare.
Burns, who relies on a fixed income, says she cannot afford private care. Her message: "Make some noise, because that's the only way we're going to be heard."