SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan Health Authority says the PET/CT scanner in Saskatoon is back in operation at reduced capacity after a disruption to the fludeoxyglucose supply resulted in cancelled appointments last month.
SHA confirmed in a statement Tuesday that the SHA medical imaging department did not receive the required tracer supply for fludeoxyglucose, or FDG, from the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation in Saskatoon. FDG is required for PET/CT scanners to operate, the SHA said.
SHA said it normally sources FDG from the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation, but availability was impacted by an unexpected production issue on Dec. 23.
That resulted in the temporary cancellation of 27 patient appointments on Dec. 23 and 24, the SHA said. The authority also noted the disruption was solely related to the availability of FDG, which has “a very short shelf life and must be produced, delivered and used within a narrow timeframe.” The PET/CT scanner itself remains mechanically functional, the statement said.
SHA reported that as of Dec. 29, 2025, the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation secured a temporary FDG supply from Ontario, allowing PET/CT services to resume at approximately half of capacity. PET scans have resumed but on a reduced schedule.
“Imaging teams are prioritizing the most urgent cases while working to reschedule remaining patients as additional supply becomes available. We acknowledge the impact this has on patients waiting for medical imaging and remain committed to working closely with the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation as they address the production issue,” SHA said in its statement.
The update follows a Saskatchewan NDP news conference in Saskatoon criticizing the government over the PET scan disruption. Also speaking at the event was Erin Neufeld, who said her 76-year-old father’s lung cancer scan appointment was cancelled that week.
“When our parents get sick, we should be able to rest assured knowing that they will receive the best care possible,” said Saskatchewan NDP associate health critic Keith Jorgenson in a statement. “Right now, people with cancer are waiting months for scans before they can even start treatment. This is terrifying.”
The NDP also said internal government correspondence from 2017 to 2019 indicated the PET/CT scanner had been closed several times due to mechanical issues, delayed shipments and staffing concerns.
Additional concerns have also been raised. In an email to SaskToday, one writer said that beyond tracer supply issues, the scanner has been operating at reduced capacity due to “chronic staffing shortages,” citing a lack of trained nuclear medicine technologists to fully staff the unit. The writer also noted the PET/CT scanner is at or near the end of its expected service life and raised concerns about the absence of clear contingency or replacement planning.
SaskToday has reached out to the province for comment on those concerns.
