Colonoscopy
Why Is the Colonoscopy Wait So Long in BC, and What Can You Do?
June 10, 2026
June 10, 2026
Few waits are harder than waiting for a colonoscopy. When a doctor wants to rule out something serious, every week feels long. In British Columbia, that wait can stretch for months, and many people are surprised to learn there is no way to simply pay for a faster one at home.
Demand for colonoscopy outpaces capacity across Canada. National guidelines say that a patient with an abnormal stool screening test should have a follow-up colonoscopy within about two months, yet no province consistently meets that target. In practice, many British Columbians wait three to four months or more, longer in some regions.
This is the part most people do not realize. Under provincial law, you cannot pay a private clinic in BC for a medically necessary procedure that the public system covers, and a colonoscopy ordered by your doctor is exactly that. The courts upheld this rule, so a private-pay shortcut inside the province is simply not available. Your real choices are to wait, to travel to another province, or to travel abroad.
First, talk to your doctor about urgency. If your symptoms or test results warrant it, you may be prioritized, and it is always worth asking whether another facility nearby has a shorter list.
Second, if waiting is not acceptable for your peace of mind or your health, an accredited colonoscopy abroad can usually be arranged within weeks rather than months. At the internationally accredited hospitals we work with, a colonoscopy is a routine, same-day procedure, and the cost is modest compared with major surgery. We coordinate the appointment, the travel, and the return of your results and any pathology to your Canadian doctor so your care continues without a gap.
If you are reading this because you are scared, that is completely understandable. A colonoscopy is most often reassuring, and catching anything early is exactly why the test matters. Traveling for one is not the right answer for everyone, and the public system remains the first place to push for timely care. But you should know that waiting is not your only option.
Meridian Care Group is a Victoria-based facilitator. We arrange accredited colonoscopy and gastrointestinal endoscopy abroad, handle the logistics end to end, and make sure your Canadian provider receives everything they need afterward. We will also give you an honest read on whether traveling makes sense for your situation.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Discuss your symptoms and the right timing for screening or diagnostic colonoscopy with your physician. Wait-time figures come from public reporting and change over time.