Shortcomings in interventional radiology in Canada and what is needed for change.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the current and future financial needs of interventional radiology (IR) in Canada.


METHODS
The Millennium Research Group, an independent market research firm, was commissioned by the Canadian Interventional Radiology Association to create a report examining the current status and outlook of interventional radiology in Canada. This article presents some of the key findings.


RESULTS
The incidence of some of the major diseases relevant to interventional radiologists, as well as smoking and obesity, is predicted to increase over the next few years, leading to an expected increased demand for IR procedures. This will in turn further exacerbate a current shortage. To become a G7 leader in terms of number of IR procedures performed per population, Canada would need to increase its number of interventional radiologists by an additional 241% from 2005 levels. Canada must spend an additional Can$221.3 million annually to support IR in Canada, which would lead to estimated savings of at least Can$180.3 million in direct health care costs and Can$92.3 million in societal costs annually, as well as at least 402 lives and 98,010 hospital-bed days saved.


CONCLUSIONS
Canada, and more specifically hospital administrators, politicians, and medical policy-makers, must substantially increase funding, awareness, and support of interventional radiology in Canada to ensure first-world medical care to the Canadian population. By not doing so, dollars, lives, complications, and waiting times are being and will continue to be forfeited.
Woolfson
Jessica P
JP
Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
McLaren
Ken
K
Baerlocher
Mark Otto
MO
D002170:Canada; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*