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Gélinas disappointed PET scanner wasn't part of budget

While it wasn't part of Thursday's provincial budget, hopes are still high an announcement is coming soon on whether Sudbury will be getting a mobile PET scanner.
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Nickel Belt MP France Gélinas is disappointed the Ontario budget contained no mention of funding for a mobile PET scanner for Health Sciences North. Photo supplied
While it wasn't part of Thursday's provincial budget, hopes are still high an announcement is coming soon on whether Sudbury will be getting a mobile PET scanner.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scanners are an advanced diagnostic tool that can detect cancers, brain diseases, such as various types of dementia, and heart disease. It is also an important research tool to map normal brain and heart functions.

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas said she was under the impression an announcement would be made on budget day.

"I was very disappointed,” Gélinas said. “There was a report done, all the indicators are good, it makes sense money-wise, technology-wise, patient-care wise.

“I mean even the owner of the mobile (PET scanner) came to Queen's Park because we were led to believe that it would happen (Thursday) and it did not.”

The report she was referring to is from the PET Steering Committee, an expert panel responsible for advising the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on issues relating to PET access in the province after reviewing scientific evidence. It's studying whether there's a case to bring the mobile scanner to Health Sciences North.

Northeastern Ontario is the only region in the province without a PET scanner. That means every year, more than 500 people travel from the northeast to Toronto to get a PET scan. Health Sciences North would need to invest $15,000 to $25,000 to have the facilities needed to accommodate the mobile scanner, while the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care would be billed around $1,000 for each scan.

The issue was a hot topic during the February byelection, won by Liberal MPP Glenn Thibeault. On Thursday, Thibeault said he expects a decision soon.

"For a PET scanner or a mobile PET scanner, it wouldn't be included in the budget because we have to wait until the PET scanner committee releases its report,” he said. “That report is due in the very near future. I was expecting it to be out sometime this week, but probably with (Thursday's) budget, it wouldn't have been released."

Thibeault's comments echoed those of Health Minister Eric Hoskins during the Sudbury byelection campaign.

“Recommendations to the ministry regarding the introduction of PET service are anticipated to come from steering committee in the coming months or sooner,” said Hoskins said in February. “Once advice is received, we will review those recommendations and make an evidence-based decision.”

Thibeault said once the report is out, they can decide on what the next step should be.

"It was an important piece during the byelection and it's still an important piece for me, but we have to follow our process and wait for the provincial report to come out,” he said. “And then we'll know which avenue I need to continue to push harder on."
But Gélinas predicted a positive announcement is imminent.

“It won't be long,” she said. “They'll make the announcement soon. I wish it would have been today."

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Darren MacDonald

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