The COS has joined with the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine, the Canadian Radiology Association, the Canadian Orthopaedic Association and the Canadian Medical Association in response to the Federal Government announcement last year that it was going to be directing $5.5 billion towards reducing waiting lists for cancer, heart, diagnostic imaging, joint replacement and sight restoration. The main objective is to present a unified position from the specialists directly affected by this initiative about how the problem should be tackled.

Each specialty association will work to develop clinically derived benchmarks on medically acceptable wait times. These benchmarks are to be evidence based as much as possible but not “evidence bound.” The expert committee will consider how these benchmarks might impact on the provision of care for other eye conditions, and how this should be monitored. Further consultation with each provincial section of ophthalmology will take place in February before presenting recommendations on a pan-Canadian basis. The work of the group will be coordinated to ensure that common definitions are used and that any inter-dependencies between activities are highlighted.

The COS is committed to ensuring that practicing ophthalmologists play a leadership role in the important issues of access and wait times and will keep members informed as this process unfolds.