Canadian Association of Radiologists asks government to invest $625M in imaging equipment
The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) has asked the federal government to invest CAD $625 million (approximately USD $477 million) in medical imaging equipment throughout Canada.
“Canadians face challenges related to inadequate distribution of health human resources and timely access to quality care,” read a pre-budget submission issued by CAR to the Canadian government. "We must become more innovative in our approach to patient care.”
CAR asked that the money be invested in facilities throughout Canada over a five-year period. In addition, the group called for "a strategy involving radiology for the eradication of tuberculosis in Innuit communities," an investment in clinical decision support technology and an investment in learning more about how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve radiology.
“A modest investment from government in modern equipment and research will have a significant gain in improving patient outcomes and ultimately make medical imaging more accessible for Canadians,” Emil Lee, MD, CAR president, said in a prepared statement.
According to a recent poll, the CAR statement noted, more than 70 percent of Canadians support using tax dollars to improve medical imaging equipment. Additionally, 80 percent of Canadians support more research being done on the use of AI in radiology.
As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.