New scanners provide enhanced diagnostic care for patients
More than 2,800 patients in Saskatchewan have benefitted from sharper, more detailed images thanks to state-of-the art scanners in Saskatchewan. The province is now home to two of four StarGuide scanners in Canada. This enhanced technology was first introduced to the province in April 2025 at Regina General Hospital following a $2.1 million capital investment from the Ministry of Health.
Since that time, teams have completed 2,856 exams for 1,634 patients using this new technology. Compared with the department's older nuclear medicine systems, StarGuide produces higher quality images, giving radiologists more accurate and reliable results to support clinical diagnosis.
In January 2026, a second StarGuide scanner began operating at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, following a generous $2 million contribution from Irene and Leslie Dubé through the Royal University Hospital Foundation.
“Investments in leading diagnostic technology continues to be a priority for our government as we work to put patients first and build access to high-quality care.,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “I want to thank the Royal University Hospital Foundation and the Dubé family for their generosity and partnership in bringing this advanced equipment to our province. Their support combined with our government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening diagnostic services ensures Saskatchewan people continue to receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
The StarGuide scanner is used within SPECT/CT (Single‑Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography) services, which allow clinicians to evaluate organ function with precise anatomical detail. Not only are the images sharper, but patients also spend less time in the scanning bed, just 20 to 30 minutes as compared to up to an hour on older systems. The scanner also provides an improved patient experience due to the scanner’s functionality aimed at reducing claustrophobia.
"We are grateful for the support of both the government and Royal University Hospital Foundation in making this a reality for our province,” said Kevin Hare, Vice-President, Provincial Clinical and Support Services with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). “This technology allows our teams to capture images with higher resolution and greater comfort for patients, supporting our physicians in making confident, well-informed decisions about their patient care.”
Teams at RUH have now seen approximately 1,200 patients, completing a variety of cardiac, bone, parathyroid and therapy-related scans, utilizing the new StarGuide scanner.
“The impact of Irene and Leslie Dubé’s generosity reaches people from across Saskatchewan who come to RUH for care, and their legacy lives on in every patient this new scanner helps,” said Jennifer Molloy, RUH Foundation CEO. “Their $2-million gift purchased this scanner, the latest in a lifetime of generosity to our hospital and its patients. Irene and Leslie dedicated themselves to the well-being of others, and we will always be grateful to them.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority continues to explore opportunities to enhance diagnostic services across the province, ensuring patients have access to the right care, at the right time, closer to home.
