Photo: When complete, the facility is expected to host 11,000 patient radiation consultations and follow-up appointments annually. | Photo Credit: Ministry of Infrastructure, Island Health
By Lindsey Coulter
NANAIMO, British Columbia — Work is now underway on the new BC Cancer Centre, located in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The project, which will be built adjacent to the existing Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, is anticipated to open in 2028 and will consolidate a variety of cancer treatments.
“The new BC Cancer Center in Nanaimo will transform cancer care for people across central Vancouver Island,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure, in a statement. “This facility is a generational investment in health care for the central Island. It will deliver better care for cancer patients for many years to come by providing vital services closer to home, so patients won’t have to travel long distances for treatment.”
The new four-story center will include:
- 16 treatment bays and two treatment rooms for systemic therapy administration and consultations with care teams
- Advanced imaging tools, including CT and PET/CT scanners, to help doctors find cancer and plan treatment more precisely
- An oncology ambulatory care unit with 12 exam rooms, four consult rooms and space for medical physicists and radiation therapists
- Four linear accelerator vaults used to safely deliver radiation treatment
- Increased parking, including a parkade and surface lot
- A new oncology pharmacy designed to meet the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities standards
When complete, the facility is expected to host 11,000 patient radiation consultations and follow-up appointments annually, and approximately 20,000 treatments for as many as 1,600 patients total in its first year of operation, saving patients and their families time, stress and the burden of long-distance travel for care.
The new facility will be operated by BC Cancer in partnership with Island Health. The estimated cost of the project is $311 million, shared between the Province, through Island Health, the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District and the BC Cancer Foundation.
The project is a part of a more than $730 million investment to support health in the growing region. Thus far, funding has contributed to more than 60 healthcare capital projects, including the newly opened urgent primary care center, a new intensive care unit, high acuity unit and a new MRI machine at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
“The new BC Cancer center in Nanaimo represents a milestone in health care on Vancouver Island,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, in a statement. “By bringing advanced, integrated cancer treatment closer to home, we are not only improving access for patients and families, but also supporting them through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.”
“Once the new cancer center is ready to welcome patients, it will provide hope for better health outcomes to the approximately 3,500 central and north Island residents diagnosed with cancer each year,” added Janice Perrino, chair, Nanaimo Regional Hospital District, in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to the Government of British Columbia for recognizing the urgent need for a cancer center in Nanaimo, one that will help shorten wait lists, reduce the burden of travel to other regions for treatment and offer patients more care options closer to home.”