Currently, the total median wait time from a GP referral to the actual start of treatment has reached 28.6 weeks, the second-highest level ever recorded in the country's history. Specifically, the wait from a specialist consultation to treatment now averages 13.3 weeks.

Economic and Clinical Consequences Beyond the immediate financial burden, prolonged delays carry significant clinical risks. Access to specialists is often a matter of urgency; delays frequently lead to a deterioration in patient health, which in turn necessitates more complex and costly medical interventions in the long run. This creates a cycle of inefficiency that impacts both individual well-being and the nation’s broader fiscal health.