(Waterloo) PC Health Critic, Elizabeth Witmer, is pleased that the Ontario government is making positron emission tomography (PET) more accessible for cancer and cardiac patients. Previously, Ontarians were being denied access to this gold-standard in diagnostic equipment, which is widely used in countries throughout the world. Despite having the 2^nd largest PET infrastructure in Canada, Ontario has had the most underutilized machines in the country.

Witmer has been advocating for fair access to PET scanning, on behalf of cancer patients, since 2006. In June 2008, Witmer introduced a resolution calling on the McGuinty government to bring forth a plan to achieve the same level of access to PET scanning in Ontario as in other provinces. However, this resolution was defeated by Liberal MPPs, despite the endorsement of both the Ontario Association of Nuclear Medicine and the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine.

“I’m pleased that Ontarians will have greater access to PET scanners,” states Witmer. “The McGuinty government has finally acknowledged that PET scanners are a vital diagnostic tool that can save lives and alleviate pain and suffering. I will continue to monitor this situation to ensure that patients are receiving fair access to this technology.”

KEY FACTS:

• Clinical trials for this technology have been underway in Ontario for more than 5 years, but were originally to last only 2 years.
• Despite having the 2^nd largest PET infrastructure in Canada, Ontario has the most underutilized machines in the country.
• A single PET centre in Manitoba helps more patients each year than Ontario’s entire PET Registry Program.
• For every 30 cancer patients assessed with a PET scan in Quebec, only 1 patient was scanned in Ontario, in 2006.
• From 2005 to 2008, Ontario had the capacity to perform 30,000 PET scans; however by December 2008, only 4,559 patients had received a publicly funded PET scan in Ontario.
• In September 2007, the Ontario Ombudsman launched an investigation into complaints regarding restricted and unequal access to PET scans.

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For further information contact:

Elizabeth Witmer, MPP

(416) 325-1306