Quebec Surgery Wait List Report — January 11 to February 7, 2026
Most major surgical categories reported slightly fewer patients waiting compared with the previous reporting cycle, according to provincial data.
Time Window
This report summarizes surgical wait-list data across Quebec for the period:
January 11, 2026 → February 7, 2026
Comparisons are made with the immediately preceding reporting period:
December 14, 2025 → January 10, 2026
Provincial Overview
Across all surgical specialties, 138,580 patients were waiting for surgery in Quebec during the most recent reporting period.
The provincial wait list remains concentrated in several high-volume specialties. Orthopedic surgery accounted for the largest number of patients waiting, with 32,989 individuals on the list. Ophthalmological surgery followed with 28,277 patients, while general surgery recorded 26,089 patients waiting.
Together, these three specialties represent a substantial portion of the province’s total surgical backlog.
Other categories reported smaller but still significant numbers of patients waiting for procedures:
- ENT and cervico-facial surgery: 14,573 patients
- Obstetrics and gynecological surgery: 10,250 patients
- Urological surgery: 10,007 patients
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery: 7,062 patients
- Other surgical categories: 6,305 patients
- Neurosurgery: 2,100 patients
- Vascular surgery: 928 patients
Changes Compared With the Previous Period
Several surgical categories reported lower wait-list totals compared with the previous reporting period, indicating modest movement in provincial surgical backlogs.
The largest decreases were observed in:
- General surgery, which declined by 1,019 patients
- Ophthalmological surgery, which declined by 929 patients
- Orthopedic surgery, which declined by 628 patients
Additional categories—including urological, ENT, plastic, and vascular surgery—also recorded smaller reductions in the number of patients waiting.
Two specialties reported slight increases in wait-list totals:
- Other surgery categories, which increased by 111 patients
- Neurosurgery, which increased by 26 patients
Short-term fluctuations between reporting periods are common and may reflect changes in scheduling, surgical activity, or patient inflow.
Observations
Although total wait-list counts remain high across the province, the most recent reporting period shows a modest overall reduction in several major surgical categories.
Orthopedic, ophthalmological, and general surgery continue to represent the largest segments of the provincial surgical backlog, reflecting their high procedure volumes.
Smaller specialties, such as vascular surgery and neurosurgery, account for a comparatively small share of total patients waiting.
Data Coverage
This analysis reflects provincial surgical wait-list reporting across all Quebec health regions for the period January 11, 2026 to February 7, 2026, with comparisons made to the preceding reporting period.
Figures represent the number of patients waiting for surgery across all urgency categories within each surgical specialty.
Methodology
Surgical wait-list totals represent the number of patients awaiting procedures across all priority levels within each surgical category.
Comparisons between reporting periods measure changes in the total number of patients waiting between two consecutive provincial reporting cycles.
Wait-list totals describe reported operational demand for surgical procedures and should not be interpreted as measures of clinical urgency, patient outcomes, or care quality.
Informational Use Statement
This article summarizes publicly reported provincial surgical wait-list data and is provided for informational purposes only.