Siemens Healthineers inks $560M imaging and AI deal with Canadian government

Siemens Healthineers has inked a $560 million (USD) imaging and artificial intelligence deal with the Canadian government, the two announced Friday. 

The new “value partnership” is with the Alberta Cancer Foundation, as providers seek to support earlier diagnoses and shorter wait times. Under the eight-year deal, Siemens Healthineers will work to replace old imaging and oncology-treatment equipment across Alberta.

The Germany-based industry giant also is investing over $124 million (USD) of its own funds to establish two centers of excellence. One will focus on AI and machine learning while the other will bolster oncology training in Alberta. (Siemens Healthineers owns cancer care giant Varian following its $16.4 billion acquisition in 2021.)

“This partnership will reduce wait times and patient expenses while increasing capacity across the healthcare system,” Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s minister of health, said in a March 21 announcement from Siemens Healthineers. “It will also provide a significant return on investment into targeted oncology areas like education, research, artificial intelligence and machine learning to better support patients and our workforce.” 

Western Canada has grappled with a growing and greying population, with rising cancer cases. Siemens Healthineers also plans to provide consulting services and additional solutions to help improve healthcare delivery in the nation’s fourth largest province. The two partners plan to establish a medical-research and innovation fund managed by the Alberta Cancer Foundation as they seek to attract and retain talent. 

In a separate announcement, government leaders said they seek to reduce emergency department visits for oncology concerns by 30% and cancer treatment wait times by 50%. The new Learning Center of Excellence in Cancer Care will be the first global oncology training, learning and reference cite in Canada. It will focus on attracting cancer care workers and embedding the latest innovations in treatment. 

“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,” Arthur Kaindl, head of Varian, said in the Alberta news release. 

The Alberta government's budget, if passed, would provide nearly $117.5 million (USD) over the next three years to enhance diagnostic imaging in the province. This investment would help to address unacceptable wait times for radiology services, according to the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Siemens Healthineers currently provides 100% of Alberta's conventional external beam radiation therapy fleet, 50% of the simulator fleet, and 10%–20% of diagnostic imaging. About 65% of Alberta's current software and equipment in cancer care and diagnostic imaging is past its life cycle, ACF estimated.