2024-25 Annual report

Rethinking how we deliver care across Canada

Improving cancer care means developing new ways to deliver services that reduce disparities and meet people’s diverse needs. Through its multi-year Models of Care Initiative, CPAC is supporting a total of 43 projects across 11 provinces and territories that test and scale innovative models across the care continuum. Projects are co-designed with the communities they serve, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, newcomers and people who are vulnerably housed to ensure approaches are culturally appropriate and equity-focused.

Improving access in rural and remote communities

Access to timely, high-quality cancer care is a particular challenge for people living in rural and remote regions. To help close these gaps, CPAC is supporting jurisdictional innovations designed to bring services closer to home, strengthen care coordination and improve equity across the cancer journey.

• Virtual patient education in Northwest Territories: The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority is using virtual nursing to help residents in remote communities learn about and prepare for endoscopic procedures. It allows people to receive the care they need closer to home, reduces stress and helps maintain continuity of care, even in isolated areas.
• Faster diagnosis of GI cancers in northern Saskatchewan: This pilot program by the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency focuses on educating patients and healthcare providers to speed up diagnosis of suspected upper gastrointestinal cancers and will develop Saskatchewan’s first Indigenous patient navigation model. By helping patients navigate the healthcare system more effectively, it reduces delays in referral and diagnosis for people in northern Saskatchewan, 50 per cent of whom are First Nations and Métis. This helps address health inequities caused by geographic isolation and complex healthcare systems.
• Expanded home infusion services in Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services is expanding the Adult Home Infusion Chemotherapy Program to improve equitable access to home-based chemotherapy by removing the geographical restriction for eligibility, increasing the number of locations in rural areas where patients can disconnect from home chemotherapy infusers, and designating 811 as the official after-hours support line for home infusion patients.
• Yukon First Nations Cancer Patient Navigation: Yukon is launching two new First Nations Cancer Patient Navigation programs to provide patient-centred, culturally appropriate support across the cancer journey. These programs will help patients and families access care, manage medical travel claims and connect to services in a timely manner. Lessons learned from this program will inform future development in other communities across the Yukon.

Go to the next section: Advancing reconciliation through First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership