Some eye surgeons operate only in the public sector while others have both public and private patients; at the time of the study, Manitoba Health paid only surgeon fees at both sites, but patients paid facility fees at private clinics (as of Jan 1, 1999, Man. Health covers all fees).

Results
- Overall, waiting times were shorter in private clinics compared to public hospitals. 
- Despite the increasing wait times, the number of public cataract surgeries increased by 32% from 4,256 (1992) to 2,619 (1996).
- For surgeons only operating in the public sector, the wait was approximately 7 weeks (1993-95), increasing to 10 weeks in 1996.
- For surgeons with both public and private practices, the wait was about 14 weeks in 1993 and 1994, up to 23 weeks in 1996. 

=> Patients awaiting public sector surgery waited up to 13 weeks if their surgeons also operated privately. Thus, allowing patients to pay privately to avoid the wait doesn’t solve the problem
=> A waiting list is necessary to manage the waiting process better, but further research is needed to ensure it is used effectively and efficiently.

Click here for: Report Summary