Patients awaiting orthopedic operations delayed by up to 3 years due to pandemic

Two years of the coronavirus pandemic have lengthened periods for patients awaiting orthopedic operations. A survey conducted by the Czech News Agency among hospitals showed that waiting periods for an operations have gone up to 3 years in some places, with most hospitals having to extend their waiting times for several months. The delays can also cause negative effects on the physical and mental health of some patients, hospital representatives said.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Czech Ministry of Health has resorted to emergency suspension of operations four times, with the longest period extending for a quarter of a year in the beginning of 2021. Since then, hospitals have tried to catch up with the lost time, but the ongoing pandemic continues to bring complications, according to the Czech News Agency.