In order to meet the ever increasing patient demand, the province will hire more oncologists, hinted Premier Ed Stelmach, as access to cancer doctors, as well as facilities have reached a crisis level in Calgary.

He shared that extra oncologists should be trained each year. Mayor, Dave Bronconnier is of the opinion that to recruit more physicians to the city, tax breaks should be offered.

Due to dearth of sufficient staff and beds at the overcapacity Tom Baker Cancer Centre, cancer patients are struggling to get appropriate care in Calgary. Patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers fail to get chemotherapy appointments, in Edmonton.

The premier said, "We do have the financial resources. We'll be increasing the number of oncologists. There will be some improvements very shortly coming in that area".

As a matter of fact, only15 medical oncologists graduated in Canada a year, which creates a bidding competition for critically needed cancer doctors, shared Stelmach.

A new Calgary cancer centre will be on the Government's three-year, $2.5-billion capital plan, revealed the Premier. Stelmach added that the number of cancer cases will go on increasing and that with aging population, they must make the investments.