January 30, 2025

To Our Consultant Specialist Colleagues in British Columbia,

On behalf of the Hematology and Oncology Society of BC, I write to express our support in the efforts to address the growing delays in access to Specialist Doctors for consultation and the resultant effect on cancer care across British Columbia.

As an Oncologist, I witness firsthand how these delays impact patient outcomes, particularly for those with aggressive malignancies requiring urgent care.

Currently, 97% of cancer patients are referred to an Oncologist through another Specialist. However, the wait times for a general practitioner (GP) referral to an initial Specialist consultation have increased dramatically. Even for urgent cases, these referrals can now take between four to ten weeks. This initial delay is further compounded by additional wait times for Oncologist consultations, diagnostic workups, and treatment initiation.

Waitlists have steadily grown, with 1.2 million British Columbians currently awaiting Specialist Care. We do not have enough Specialists in this province to serve the needs of British Columbians.

As a result, cancer patients in BC face unprecedented delays before receiving their definitive surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. These prolonged wait times can worsen disease progression, lower survival rates, and reduce quality of life. In many cases, delays in treatment can mean the difference between a curable and an incurable malignancy, significantly compromising patient outcomes.

I urge the Ministry of Health to address these systemic issues by increasing Specialist availability, streamlining referral pathways, and allocating additional resources to expedite oncology consultations and treatments. Cancer care must remain a priority, ensuring timely access to life-saving interventions for all British Columbians.

I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Sasha Smiljanic, MD, FRCPC & Alym Abdulla, MD, FRCPC Co-Chairs, Hematology & Oncology Society of BC