PET-CT scans are widely used for non cancer imaging in most of the world, but not in British Columbia
In Canada 34% of PET scans are performed for non-cancer related indications.
In BC this number is less than 2%.
Learn more about some of the current places this is impacting patient care below.
Why is BC such an outlier?
BC was a late adopter of PET usage in Canada but is starting to close the gap with other Canadian provinces. We still have a ways to go in BC.
Canada as a whole also has invested less in infrastructure than other countries and has low PET utilization rates compared to other countries.
BC Cancer leads expansion of PET access for Cancer Patients
BCCA has been a tremendous success story in Nuclear Medicine in Cancer over the last decade, with the launch of new PET programs in Victoria and Kelowna, and planned expansions in Nanaimo, Surrey, and Burnaby over the next few years under the 10 year cancer action plan. There has been no clear direction from the Ministry of Health on whether this infrastructure will also be committed to the care of non-cancer patients. BCCA has also made innovative significant contributions to resource in new radiopharmaceutical therapies for cancer.
What about Nuclear Medicine outside of BC Cancer?
Regional Health Authorities have long identified and advocated for needs for PET in non-cancer indications but several barriers exist.
- Lack of defined MSP fee schedules for PET
- Lack of strategic direction from the Ministry of Health
- Communication gaps between health authorities and BC Cancer
- Lack of access to non-oncologic PET radiopharmaceuticals
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