Hospitals across Ontario are sounding the alarm: they need an additional $1 billion in funding this fiscal year just to keep up with inflation, population growth, and mounting demand for services.
The Ontario Hospital Association says health-care facilities are facing steep cost increases tied to inflation, population growth, and higher demand for services — all without matching funding from the province.
Many hospitals have already been forced to absorb millions in deficits just to maintain staffing levels and essential programs.
Administrators are calling on the province to provide more predictable and sustainable funding to ensure patients continue to receive timely and quality care.
The shortfall is being felt across both urban and rural communities, where hospitals say they have already reached a breaking point.
Without additional support, they warn that service cuts, longer wait times, and reduced access to critical care could become unavoidable.