The UCP government says cancer surgeries in Alberta are now at nearly 115% of pre-pandemic volumes, with an increased number completed within clinically recommended time..According to the provincial government, about 70% of cancer patients received their surgeries within the clinically recommended time in the 2021-22 fiscal year, compared with about 60% in 2018-19..The UCP government said cancer surgery numbers went up to about 22,500 from 20,000, a 12.5% increase over pre-COVID-19 levels..“The surge in cancer surgeries surpassing pre-pandemic levels is a remarkable accomplishment and shows meaningful results from the Alberta Surgical Initiative," Minister of Health Jason Copping said.."Access to early detection and treatment is vital to improving the odds of overcoming a cancer diagnosis. Knowing wait times for cancer surgeries are decreasing in spite of the pandemic is a relief to patients in the most difficult times in their lives. I would like to thank all the physicians and health-care workers who are essential to this work.".According to the UCP government it's part of Alberta’s Surgical Initiative, Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services (AHS) have been increasing surgical capacity in hospitals and the number of surgeries at chartered surgical facilities..Alberta's government claims main operating room surgical suite hours have been increased at hospitals, which is steadily reducing the surgical wait-list..AHS is performing an additional 30,000 ophthalmology procedures and 6,000 orthopedic procedures this fiscal year through new contracts with chartered surgical facilities. This is in addition to providing quicker access to urology, orthopedic and ophthalmology surgeries by implementing a central access and intake model called the Alberta facilitated access to specialized treatment program..“The increased volume we are seeing in cancer surgical activity is attributed to the excellent work of AHS’ staff and physicians, who continue to bring their best for Albertans," Dr. Francois Belanger, vice-president of quality and chief medical officer at AHS said..The surgical wait-list in Alberta currently sits at 6.7% above pre-pandemic levels in Alberta. The total surgical wait-list for adults is about 72,600, compared with about 68,000 in February 2020, before the pandemic.
