Alberta announces 8-year, $800M upgrade in cancer equipment, research with eye towards reduced wait times

A new partnership will see a major investment into cancer care equipment in Alberta, the provincial government announced on Friday.

The province of Alberta announced Friday that it’s giving cancer care an eight-year, $800-million makeover in a partnership with Germany’s Siemens Healthineers and the Alberta Cancer Foundation to upgrade and update oncology equipment and implement AI technology.

The upgrades were announced Friday at a press conference attended by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, Nate Glubish and representatives from Siemens, the Alberta Cancer Foundation and Cancer Care Alberta.

“Today is more progress for health care in Alberta,” said Smith. “We’re focusing the (health care) system on patients and staff in a partnership with Siemens Healthineers and the Alberta Cancer Foundation to give Alberta cancer patients exactly what they need.”

The province says the money will be invested to replace and update Alberta’s existing oncology treatment equipment, leverage artificial intelligence and create two “centres of excellence” in cancer care that helps retain global talent in Alberta.

If it all goes according to plan, the provincial government says visits to the emergency department for oncology (cancer)-related issues could be reduced by 30 per cent, and wait times to receive cancer care could be reduced by 50 per cent.

Germany’s Siemens Healthineers will replace existing oncology equipment at the end of its life cycle, introducing new technologies and investing $175 million into the partnership between the province, Siemens and the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

Centres of Excellence

The first global oncology training, learning and reference site will be based at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary.

A second “centre of excellence” will be based in Edmonton, focusing on creating a cancer-focused artificial intelligence and machine-learning program, to help expand Alberta’s data science expertise in oncology.

“Cancer Care Alberta is grateful and excited about this transformational partnership and investment in cancer care in Alberta,” said Brenda Hubley, the chief program officer of Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, in a media release.

“This partnership will position us to leverage the power and impact of technology, research and innovation, and our people to deliver the best possible care for cancer patients and families across the cancer continuum and the province – today and into the future.”

The province says it will also establish a medical research and innovation fund designed to attract global talent, with Siemens Healthineers and the Alberta Cancer Foundation each contributing $24 million apiece.

“Together, we will advance care for Alberta cancer patients through AI, education, research and innovation,” said Siemens Healthineers head Arthur Kaindi. “By addressing the entire cancer care continuum, we are working toward a world without fear of cancer.”

The Alberta Cancer Foundation will manage the fund and identify projects to help drive innovation in oncology.

“This is a major leap forward for cancer care in Alberta and will fuel vital cancer research,” said Alberta Cancer Foundation CEO Wendy Beauchesne. “We’re proud to be a partner in moving the needle here at home and a catalyst for bringing more effective, personalized treatments to patients sooner.

“This is a truly remarkable day for Alberta.”

Cancer rates increasing

With a growing and aging population, the province says cancer rates are increasing and wait times growing longer.

LaGrange said the province hopes to reverse those trends through its tri-partite partnership with Siemens Healthineers and the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“This partnership will reduce wait times and patient expenses while increasing capacity across the health care system,” LaGrange said. “It will also provide a significant return on investment into targeted oncology areas like education, research, artificial intelligence and machine learning to better support patients and our workforce.”