July 23, 2009 12:00 PM
McGuinty Government Makes Diagnostic Exam A Publicly Insured Health Service
Ontario is making positron emission tomography (PET) scanning a publicly insured health service available to cancer and cardiac patients under conditions where PET scans have been proven to be clinically effective.
PET scanning is a nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging exam. PET scanning can provide information on both the location and the extent of the metabolic activity of abnormal tissues such as cancer and it has the potential to identify the areas of abnormal metabolic activity that is not always found through the use of MRIs or CT scans. For the services that will be insured, PET is useful in determining the stage or extent of some cancers to aid in treatment decisions. PET has also been determined to be useful in making treatment decisions in certain advanced heart conditions.
Ontario’s decision has been informed by advice received from Ombudsman Andre Marin. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will ensure that resources are in place to continue clinical evaluations for additional health indications where PET scanning may prove beneficial. In addition, the ministry is committed to assessing and evaluating future technologies in an expeditious and transparent manner. For individuals with indications for which PET scans are not currently funded, physicians will continue to be able to make a request through the PET Access Program, where each application for funding is considered on a case-by-case basis. The ministry will work towards making this process and the decision-making behind it more transparent, and ensure that resources are available to process applications in a timely manner.
QUICK FACTS
- The government is making PET scanning available as an insured service this fall, for certain evidence-based health indications, based on results from the Ontario studies of its effectiveness on patient outcomes.
- By October 2009, insured PET scans will be performed in Ottawa, London, Toronto, Hamilton and Thunder Bay.
- Ontario has established one of the largest PET infrastructures in Canada with 10 PET scanners at nine centres.
LEARN MORE
CONTACTS
- David Jensen
Communications Branch
416-314-6197
media@moh.gov.on.ca - Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media@moh.gov.on.ca
- For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
1-866-532-3161
(Toll-free in Ontario only) - Neala Barton
Minister’s Office
416-327-4388
media@moh.gov.on.ca
“PET scans have been shown to be highly effective in determining treatment of certain diseases where it can help ensure patients receive the best possible health outcome. I’m grateful to the Ombudsman for his advice and the members of the Ontario PET steering committee for their dedication and willingness to put patients first and to support Ontario’s efforts to ensure that we only pay for new health technologies that work and improve better patient care.”
– David Caplan
Health and Long-Term Care Minister
“We’re making PET scanning available to Ontarians based on the evidence of its effectiveness. I applaud the Ontario Government for supporting past and future evaluations of new technologies before widespread introduction.”
– Dr. William (Bill) Evans
Chair, Ontario PET Steering Committee
“I am gratified that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has taken my concerns about patient access to PET scanning in 2009 seriously and acted.”
– André Marin
Ontario Ombudsman
“Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction and will benefit cancer and cardiac patients who meet the clinically proven indications for PET scans. In addition, the OANM looks forward to working with government in order to appropriately increase PET access for those patients requiring this procedure in the future.”
– Dr. Christopher O’Brien
President, Ontario Association of Nuclear Medicine (OANM)