A new analysis from the Montreal Economic Institute indicates that the average time patients spent waiting for emergency‑room care across Quebec fell by 11 minutes in 2025 compared with the previous year. The institute’s report highlights the reduction as the latest change in a key health‑care performance metric for the province.
The study examined provincial data on emergency‑room visits and calculated the mean waiting period from patient arrival to initial medical assessment. By comparing the 2025 figures with those recorded in 2024, the institute determined the average gap narrowed by exactly 11 minutes. The findings were released as part of the institute’s annual review of health‑care efficiency.
Emergency‑room wait times are widely regarded as an indicator of how well the health‑care system can manage demand and deliver timely treatment. A shorter waiting period generally suggests that resources such as staff, beds and triage processes are better aligned with patient flow. The Montreal Economic Institute noted that the 11‑minute improvement reflects a measurable shift in the province’s ability to address urgent medical needs.
While the report does not attribute the change to any single factor, it underscores the importance of tracking wait‑time trends as a means of evaluating overall system performance. The institute’s analysis will be used by policymakers and health administrators to assess the effectiveness of recent initiatives aimed at streamlining emergency services. The 2025 data provides a benchmark for future comparisons as Quebec continues to monitor and adjust its health‑care delivery strategies.