Can I make a doctor's appointment for Canada from outside Canada? (and how long wait)?

[frankfurtvancouver]

I'm currently not in Canada but I'm an International Student, so I'll return in the fall. I have a problem with what I guess is strong pelvic obliquity and I really need to go to an orthopedist to prevent it from getting even worse.

I heard that I first need to go to a normal doctor in Canada, and they have to refer me to a specialist doctor (orthopedist I guess). Is this true?

And my more important question: I'm now at home in Europe, can I just make an appointment from here? Can I call doctors in Canada and make an appointment (so that I don't have to wait so long when I'm back)? Or do I have to be in Canada to make a doctor's appointment with Canadian doctors?



Thank you

 

[scylla]

Yes - you typically need to see a general practitioner (normal doctor) to be referred to the specialist. Getting an appointment with a normal doctor isn't the part that will take time (you can just go to a walk-in clinic and see one right away). What typically takes time is the wait between the referral from the normal doctor and the next appointment available with a specialist.

If the problem is that severe, maybe consider getting it looked at now in your home country?

 

[frankfurtvancouver]

"If the problem is that severe, maybe consider getting it looked at now in your home country?"

I have this since like 2 years or so, it just got really bad in the last months with pain and everything. I think it's ok to wait until September, I just don't want to wait until November/December or something because I don't know how that would affect negatively.

I just once read somewhere that it takes really long in Canada to even get a doctor's appointment at all...I just hope it doesn't take as long as visa processing times , to make a comparison

 

[Leon]

What you can do before coming to Canada is call specialists in your area and find out what their waiting lists are like. If the receptionist tells you that the doctor you are calling will only see you in 3 months, call another. However, don't do this until nearer to you going back because the waiting lists may change. Once you go back, go to a walk in clinic and ask for a referral to the doctor who has the shortest waiting list. After getting the referral, call the specialist and tell them you are having an emergency and try to push for your appointment to happen sooner.

 

[frankfurtvancouver]

"What you can do before coming to Canada is call specialists in your area and find out what their waiting lists are like"

But I really can't go to a specialist doctor like orthopedist right away? I'm asking again because here I could, so I wonder why not also in Canada...

 

[torontosm]

"What you can do before coming to Canada is call specialists in your area and find out what their waiting lists are like"

But I really can't go to a specialist doctor like orthopedist right away? I'm asking again because here I could, so I wonder why not also in Canada...

No, as stated, you must be referred to a specialist by your family doctor or some other GP.

 

[Leon]

"What you can do before coming to Canada is call specialists in your area and find out what their waiting lists are like"

But I really can't go to a specialist doctor like orthopedist right away? I'm asking again because here I could, so I wonder why not also in Canada...

The reason you can't in Canada is because they've decided that it's less costly for health care if they first let you see a GP who makes sure you need to see a specialist before they actually let you go to specialists which cost health care more money.

Health care in Canada is not perfect. There are waiting lists, sometimes long if you don't have something that is life threatening. If you feel that health care is better where you are now, you should make use of that.