Canadian Medical Travel Coordination
Last updated: June 2026
Why Canadian families consider pediatric care abroad
According to No Child Elects to Wait, a 2023 report for Children's Healthcare Canada by The Conference Board of Canada, the clinically recommended time frame for pediatric spinal (scoliosis) surgery is six months, yet in Canada about 40% of these surgeries are completed after that time frame. Pediatric wait times are not reported in a standardized way across the country the way adult priority procedures are, and thousands of children sit on provincial surgical lists, many waiting longer than the recommended time.​
Treatment at an accredited hospital abroad is one option for earlier care. It applies to planned, elective procedures that can be arranged in advance, not to emergencies. Urgent and complex conditions are best managed within Canada's pediatric system.
How pediatric care abroad works for Canadian families
Pediatric care abroad for Canadian families follows a clear path: you share your child's medical file, we match you with an accredited hospital and physician, you meet the treating physician in a free online consultation, and then we coordinate the hospital, travel, accommodation, and follow-up after you return.
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Maple Med Global is a coordination service; the medical care is provided by the accredited hospital and its physicians, who hold clinical responsibility for your treatment. Treatment abroad is private and paid directly by you. The quote sets out what is and is not included. If you prefer not to pay all at once, instalment financing is available through third-party providers and repaid over time.
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Share your child's medical file and imaging
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We match you with an accredited hospital suited to your child's case
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If the case is accepted, a free online consultation with the treating physician
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A clear quote showing what is included
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Coordination of hospital, flights, and accommodation
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Follow-up support after you return to Canada
Pediatric care we coordinate
Decisions about a child's care should be made first with the medical team that knows the child in Canada. If a family then wishes to consider an accredited option abroad, the medical teams at the hospitals we work with review the file and assess whether the case can be treated at that centre, and we relay that view to the family.
Pediatric surgery
We coordinate planned, non-urgent pediatric surgical care. The specific technique and suitability for your child's case are determined by the specialist before any commitment.
Procedure area
Who is it for
ENT and hearing
Ophthalmology
Cleft and reconstructive
Urology
Cochlear implantation, complex airway, persistent conditions with long waits
Strabismus, congenital cataract, eyelid (ptosis) conditions
Cleft lip and palate care and revision, craniofacial reconstruction
Hypospadias, undescended testis, vesicoureteral reflux
Pediatric orthopedics and scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine that often develops and can progress during growth. When a curve passes a certain degree and continues to progress despite bracing, surgery (spinal fusion) may be recommended. Timing matters, because a curve can worsen during growth spurts; the 2023 report found that about 40% of pediatric spinal surgeries are completed after the recommended six month time frame. Treatment should be planned with your child's orthopedic team in Canada. If a family wishes to consider an accredited option abroad, the medical teams at the hospitals we work with review the file and assess suitability.
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Pediatric oncology
Pediatric oncology in Canada is comprehensive, and a child's cancer care should be led by their oncology team here. For certain childhood tumours, particularly those near the brain, spine, or eyes, proton beam therapy delivers radiation with less dose to surrounding healthy, developing tissue, which can lower the risk of long-term effects such as growth and learning problems and second cancers. Proton therapy is offered at a limited number of specialized centres internationally. If a family decides to consider treatment options at one of these centres, we contact it directly and arrange the steps needed for the child's admission.
Pediatric cardiology
Most pediatric cardiac care is managed within Canada's system, and complex or urgent cardiac care should remain in Canada. Congenital heart conditions range from simple to complex; some are treated with catheter-based procedures and others with surgery. If a family wants to consider treatment options at an accredited centre abroad, we contact that centre directly, prepare the medical records, and arrange the steps needed for review or admission.
Who is suited to travel for pediatric care
For a child, a decision to seek care abroad should begin with the physician who knows the child in Canada. Whether to travel for treatment is a clinical matter for qualified physicians, and we encourage you to discuss any plan with your own physician in Canada. The specialist who would treat you abroad reviews your file to confirm whether your case can be treated at that centre. When you share your records, we relay the specialist's view on whether suitable options exist; some cases are better treated closer to home.
How we choose your hospital and surgeon
We select the hospital in every case on three criteria: the hospital's volume in the relevant pediatric procedure, the physician's experience with your child's specific procedure, and a pediatric or international patient department with English-language support. We share the hospital we recommend, with the physician's name and professional background, before any commitment.
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The international hospitals we work with hold Joint Commission International (JCI), Accreditation Canada, or equivalent accreditation. If you want to compare, you can ask for more than one option.
Where Canadian families can have pediatric care abroad
We coordinate pediatric care for Canadian families at established international centres across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The right destination depends on both your child's case and your priorities, such as expertise, language, timing, and travel preference.
Region
Americas
Countries
Noted for
Accredited pediatric programs, including JCI-accredited care in Panama affiliated with a US children's hospital
Europe
Asia
Established pediatric centres, rigorous standards, advanced technology
High-volume pediatric centres with English-language international patient support
If you have already decided on a destination, we will factor that in. All the countries we work with are listed on our Destinations page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Child's Care with Maple Med Global
As a Canada-based coordination team, Maple Med Global manages every step of the process, from choosing the right hospital and physician to flights, accommodation, and follow-up after you return. To begin, share your child's diagnosis and any imaging with us. We review the case and present suitable hospitals together with a clear treatment plan and quote.
This page provides general information, not medical advice. Clinical decisions are made by the treating physician(s).