The Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) are extending a program that allows patients to receive breast health diagnostics at a medical facility in Calgary as a temporary measure to improve wait times for urgent procedures.
The program, established in 2023, has been extended to March 2025 while in-province services continue to be stabilized.
Since its implementation in November 2023, the Out-of-Province Breast Assessment Program has worked to reduce wait times for urgent breast biopsies, bringing them in line with the clinically recommended target of three weeks or less.
“We are committed to ensuring Saskatchewan residents have access to safe, high-quality and timely breast health care services as we advance several measures to expand in-province capacity, implement new technologies and complete construction on the new Breast Health Centre in Regina,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “We appreciate the dedication from our health care teams to accelerate urgent diagnostic breast cancer procedures and treatments following a diagnosis.”
Saskatchewan patients who meet the criteria for urgent diagnostic breast procedures, such as biopsies, will be consulted by healthcare providers to determine their eligibility and interest in the program.
Eligible patients willing to travel to Calgary will receive diagnostic services based on urgency, as determined by clinical evaluation. Those requiring urgent care will receive priority access, either within Saskatchewan or at the Calgary facility, depending on availability.
“The Out-of-Province Breast Assessment Program helps provide Saskatchewan residents at risk of breast cancer with timely access to urgent diagnostic services,” SHA medical imaging executive director Richard Dagenais said. “By extending this initiative, we can continue to address the immediate needs of patients while actively building capacity within the province to deliver high-quality breast health services closer to home.”
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health will reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for the patient and a support person, up to a maximum of $1,500. All medical expenses related to the diagnostic procedure will be covered by the ministry.
As of Jan. 17, 2025, about 472 patients have had diagnostic procedures completed in Calgary.
Several initiatives are underway to improve access to breast health services in Saskatchewan, including:
- The construction of a new Breast Health Centre in Regina, which will bring multiple services together in one location. The center will provide diagnostic imaging, specialist and surgeon consultations, patient education, support and navigation. It will also offer on-site post-treatment care, including therapies and rehabilitation.
- Expanding breast cancer screening eligibility to individuals aged 40 to 49, beginning in January 2025.
- Increasing capacity in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw to support long-waiting and urgent patients from Regina and southern Saskatchewan, providing timely diagnostic procedures to 150 additional patients since November 2023.
- Implementing a centralized booking system for breast cancer screening to streamline access and improve efficiency.
- Introducing 3D breast imaging (tomosynthesis) to enhance cancer detection, reduce unnecessary follow-up tests and improve accuracy.
- Adopting new breast tumor localization “seed” technology which minimizes delays, reduces cancellations and improves patient comfort.
- Continuing recruitment and training efforts to address staffing needs for medical radiation technologists, sonographers and breast imaging radiologists, including two Regina-based radiologists who recently completed breast radiology fellowships.
These efforts are part of an ongoing commitment to improving breast cancer detection, treatment and patient care across Saskatchewan.