Province says new partnership will improve cancer care in Alberta

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on March 22, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The province has announced a partnership with private company Siemens Healthineers and the Alberta Cancer Foundation, aiming to improve cancer care in Alberta.

“Albertans living with cancer deserve access to the latest medical technology to receive the most effective treatments possible,” said the province. To further this end, the province is investing $800 million over eight years in a cancer innovation value partnership with Siemens Healthineers and the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

The investment will replace and update outdated equipment and establish a medical research and innovation fund, among other goals.

Headquartered in Germany, Siemens Healthineers will replace Alberta’s existing equipment at the end of its life cycle and introduce new technologies that are more effective and could significantly reduce wait times for patients.

These replacements will begin almost immediately.

With a rise in cancer cases due to Alberta’s growing and aging population, the province is looking to combat associated increased wait times. To this end, the province is looking to introduce an artificial intelligence-enabled treatment unit, which they claim “could shorten the time from consultation to treatment from two weeks to as little as two hours, increasing the number of patients receiving treatment and improving health outcomes.”

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

The Learning Centre of Excellence in Cancer Care, which will be based at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary, will be the first global oncology training, learning and reference site in Canada, the province says, and will focus on training the workforce of tomorrow.

There will also be virtual opportunities for remote and rural health-care workers.

“Cancer Care Alberta is grateful and excited about this transformational partnership and investment in cancer care in Alberta,” said Brenda Hubley, chief program officer with Cancer Care Alberta. “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.”

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