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New Delhi: Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has sharply criticised Canada’s government-run healthcare system after the death of an Indian-origin man who allegedly waited for over eight hours for treatment at a hospital emergency department.
Reacting to the incident on X, Musk compared state-run healthcare services to the US Department of Motor Vehicles, which is often criticised for inefficiency.
“When the government does medical care, it is about as good as the DMV,” Musk wrote, quoting a post that claimed the victim’s wife “was told she was being rude after her husband died while waiting to be seen in the ER for over 8 hours with chest pain.”
The incident occurred earlier this week in Edmonton, where 44-year-old Prashant Sreekumar reportedly collapsed after experiencing severe chest pain. He was taken to Grey Nuns Community Hospital, where he was allegedly asked to wait for several hours in the emergency department.
According to reports, Sreekumar repeatedly complained of acute chest pain but died before he could be seen by a doctor. The case was first reported by Global News.
Sreekumar’s father said his son had described the pain as unbearable while speaking to him on the phone.
“He told me, ‘Papa, I cannot bear the pain,’” he recalled, as quoted in the report.
Sreekumar, a father of three, was at work when the pain began and was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in the emergency waiting area for hours.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded to the incident on Friday, saying the responsibility lay with the Canadian authorities.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Sreekumar was a Canadian national of Indian origin.
“The person is of Indian origin, but he happens to be Canadian national. So, obviously the government of Canada should take responsibility in this particular matter,” he said during a press briefing.
Calling it an “unfortunate incident,” Jaiswal added, “We extend our deepest condolences and are coordinating with local authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding the death. Our consulate is providing all possible assistance to the family.”
The case has sparked renewed debate over long wait times in Canada’s public healthcare system, with Musk’s remarks amplifying international scrutiny of emergency care delays and alleged medical negligence.
