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Quebec Seniors Face Mammogram Wait Crisis
26 Oct
Summary
- Seniors in Abitibi-Témiscamingue wait over a year for mammograms.
- Quebec's program targets women aged 50-74 for biennial screening.
- Staff shortages and increased demand strain regional services.
Women aged 50 to 74 in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region are facing significant delays for essential mammograms. Mireille Pomerleau, 74, is concerned she might exceed the program's age limit before receiving her final screening, with wait times stretching to late 2027. This starkly contrasts with the provincial goal of providing access within six weeks.
The Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue attributes these delays to a growing caseload and a shortage of medical imaging technologists and radiologists. The region currently has only six of the ten needed radiologists, relying on remote interpretations. Efforts are ongoing to recruit more staff and potentially deploy mobile screening units to mitigate the backlog.
