Health Minister Eric Hoskins visited health Sciences North today to announce the province would provide $4.6 million in capital funding to install a PET scanner at the hospital.
Coincidentally, the announcement comes the same day as the Sam Bruno PET Scan Fund, which has been campaigning — and fundraising — to bring the diagnostic tool to northeastern Ontario, reached its goal.
The Northern Cancer Foundation announced today that the final $1 million needed for a PET scanner has been raised.
Two anonymous donors gave $500,000 each to support the Sam Bruno P.E.T. Scan Fund.
“The Sam Bruno P.E.T. Scan Fund has been among the most visible campaign projects the Northern Cancer Foundation has been a part of,” said Tannys Laughren, executive director of the Northern Cancer Foundation, in a news release. “Today, these two very generous donations have made acquiring a P.E.T scanner a reality for Sudbury.”
The NCF said the final $1 million was achieved in collaboration with Patricia Mills from HSN’s Development Office.
The donations mean enough capital has been raised to to purchase the Positron Emission Tomography scanner. A PET scanner is an imaging machine used to diagnose and stage treatment for cancer, as well as cardiac disease and neurological disorders.
With the money for the machine in place, the $4.6 million from the province supports an expansion of the hospital to allow for the installation of the PET-CT scanner.
The new space will accommodate the scanner, associated equipment and support spaces for patients and staff.
Sudbury.com will have more on this story today.
