The Saskatchewan government is opening a new Breast Health Centre in Regina, it will expand the provincial breast cancer screening eligibility and implement new breast cancer tumour localization technology.

Regina’s new Breast Health Centre will provide diagnostic imaging, consultation with specialists and surgeons, patient education, support and navigation as well as on-site access to post treatment care, such as therapies and rehabilitation. The centre will be operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority and is expected to open its doors in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The province will also make changes to the provincial breast cancer screening age eligibility from the current 50 and older to include women aged 40-49. The expansion of the screening program is expected to take effect January 2025 through a phased approach to gradually reduce the age eligibility to allow opportunity to recruit the necessary resources.

To help reduce wait times, family physicians and nurse practitioners will be able to provide a referral to the Breast Health Centre.

The Saskatchewan government came under fire at the end of last year over the wait time for women to get diagnostic screening. In December, the government announced its out-of-province breast cancer diagnostic procedures initiative which entailed contracting Clearpoint, a private health company in Calgary, until March 2025 to offer 1,000 scans to eligible Saskatchewan patients on an urgent wait list.