Not enough people to support PET scanner: Matthews

The NDP MPP for Nickel Belt is asking the province's health minister why northeastern Ontario does not have access to a positron emission tomography scan machine.

France Gelinas said the northeast is the only region in the province that doesn't have access to a PET scanner.

However, during an interview on CBC Sudbury's Morning North program, Ontario’s Health Minister Deb Matthews said the technology is "relatively new" and "very expensive."

"What's important to me is that people get the care they need, and sometimes that means they need to travel to get that care," she said.

Matthews noted there is not the critical mass in northeastern Ontario to support at PET scanner.

Before the province can decide to provide funding for the technology, Health Sciences North and the LHIN has to put forth a request, she noted.