Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, and Nova Scotia Health announced a groundbreaking 10-year, $175 million CAD multi-disciplinary oncology partnership (MDOP) aiming to transform cancer care in Nova Scotia, a region with over 1 million inhabitants and an above-average incidence of cancer. This partnership, starting from December 2022, focuses on enhancing the patient journey from screening to survivorship and building an advanced oncology ecosystem.

The collaboration leverages the combined expertise of Siemens Healthineers and Varian to optimize care across the cancer pathway, introducing innovative solutions to improve workflows, efficiency, and treatment precision. The initiative will unify oncology patient data province-wide through Varian software, enabling comprehensive patient understanding and personalized care. Nova Scotia Health will also upgrade its radiation treatment systems to Varian's Ethos radiotherapy systems, incorporating artificial intelligence for greater treatment precision and speed.

Additionally, the partnership promises economic benefits, with Varian opening a new office in Halifax in early 2024, committing $50 million CAD to payroll and rent, and creating at least 60 jobs over ten years. This move is part of a broader strategy to develop and potentially commercialize a new digital imaging concept, with successes contributing to an MDOP Innovation Fund for future projects.

Premier Tim Houston and Arthur Kaindl of Varian expressed their commitment to advancing cancer care, highlighting the partnership's potential to bring hope and significant advancements to patients in Nova Scotia.