 "Elon Musk slams Canada’s healthcare after Indian-origin man dies waiting for treatment")
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has harshly criticised Canada’s healthcare system after the death of a 44-year-old Indian-origin man who reportedly died waiting for medical care in an Edmonton hospital. Musk’s remarks, shared on X (formerly Twitter), triggered fresh debate over government-run medical systems and emergency-care wait times.
The Indian-origin man, Prashant Sreekumar, died on December 22 at Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton after waiting more than eight hours in the emergency room despite complaining of severe chest pain, according to reports.
His wife captured parts of the ordeal in a video that later went viral online.
Watch the viral video here:
The video contains disturbing visuals. Viewer discretion is advised.
Heartbreaking video revealing the reality of Canada’s emergency healthcare response. Indian-origin man Prashant Sreekumar dies after being made to wait 8 hours in an Edmonton hospital waiting room while lying on the floor pleading with chest pain. pic.twitter.com/IGIcDzgIWB
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) December 26, 2025
Musk’s viral critique
Reacting to a social media post about the incident, Musk wrote on X: “When the government does medical care, it is about as good as the DMV.”
The comment compared government-run healthcare to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the United States, which many people jokingly criticise for being slow and inefficient.
Musk’s post drew attention from users worldwide and added a high-profile voice to wider criticism of public health systems.
What happened at the hospital
According to family accounts and media reports, Sreekumar was taken to the hospital after experiencing sharp chest pain at work. He was checked in and asked to sit in the triage area, where he waited for more than eight hours while repeatedly expressing how intense the pain was. During that time, nurses periodically monitored his condition but did not provide urgent treatment.
#Canada | When the hospital asked him to rate the pain out of 10, he said it is a 15: The deceased Canada man, Prashant Sreekumar's close acquaintance Varinder Bhullar reveals to CNN-News18's @AmanKayamHai_ in an #Exclusive interview#Healthcare #CanadaIndian #Tragic |… pic.twitter.com/wdKSYtoRnK
— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 28, 2025
His wife alleged in a video that hospital staff gave him only Tylenol and a basic heart test, then instructed him to continue waiting. When he was finally called inside, he collapsed shortly afterward and could not be revived.
Speaking about her husband’s suffering, his father recalled hearing him say: “Papa, I cannot bear the pain.”
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Canada should take responsibility for the incident, noting that while Sreekumar was a Canadian national, he was of Indian origin and the Canadian government should address the family’s concerns.
 "'We reject exaggerated narratives': Bangladesh pushes back on India’s comments on treatment of minorities")
 "Bangladesh: Student-led NCP ties up with radical Islamist Jamaat amid internal backlash")
 "Watch: President Droupadi Murmu takes sortie aboard submarine INS Vaghsheer")
 "‘80 drones, 36 hours’: Pakistan admits damage from India’s Op Sindoor, confirms Nur Khan air base hit")
 "'We reject exaggerated narratives': Bangladesh pushes back on India’s comments on treatment of minorities")
 "Bangladesh: Student-led NCP ties up with radical Islamist Jamaat amid internal backlash")
 "Watch: President Droupadi Murmu takes sortie aboard submarine INS Vaghsheer")
 "‘80 drones, 36 hours’: Pakistan admits damage from India’s Op Sindoor, confirms Nur Khan air base hit")
