Many Canadians are avoiding much-needed medical appointments, so ailments could worsen
We've heard plenty over this past year about the dire mental health situation of many people through the pandemic, as they suffer from isolation, stress, uncertainty and financial challenges.
It’s a situation that won’t mend anytime soon and is expected to have repercussions far down the road.
But the same is true for physical health, judging by recent reports. Many Canadians are hunkered down at home or trying to get through a busy workday and avoiding much-need medical appointments. As a result, their ailments are likely to worsen.
And that’s obviously bad news for employers now and in the future, with implications around employee productivity, absenteeism, disability and mental health.
A major drop in new claimants for drugs used to treat chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer suggests that more than 100,000 Canadians living with undiagnosed chronic diseases did not begin treatment in 2020, according to a report from Express Scripts.
Of further concern: Two-thirds of Canadians living with a chronic illness or major illness have faced challenges accessing treatment and care during the pandemic. Thirty per cent had a cancellation for screening and diagnostic appointments, and 43 per cent had a cancellation or delay in their treatment, according to a report from HealthPartners.
Lastly, it’s estimated that Canadians lost nearly $2.8 billion in lost wages and productivity last year with roughly 1.2 million waiting for medically necessary treatment, according to the Fraser Institute. Each of them lost an average of $2,254 in lost wages and reduced productivity during working hours.
While it’s true that long medical wait times have been a problem for years, the pandemic can’t have helped — the total median wait time in Canada for medical treatment was 22.6 weeks in 2020 — the longest in the survey’s 30-year history.
Obviously, the mental health of workers should be a major consideration for employers and HR, but they will also want to be well prepared for the repercussions of many people postponing medical treatment, and the supports they will need.
