Thank you, Madam Chair.
Both Dr. O'Brien and Dr. Urbain identified the issue of cost. This is clearly multifactorial. Cost increases had been announced before the NRU shutdown. We are waiting to hear from our provincial colleagues on what the provincial differences in costs are, and we will report back as and when we get those data.
The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists have identified issues of human resources, and I am grateful for the information they provided in the report they issued earlier this fall. There is no doubt that the impact is greatest at the technologist level, where we have asked for really significant changes in work practices to help us deal with this, and they have responded magnificently. We are all concerned that we see a continuing flow of technologist students coming into the system and that we see continuing enthusiasm for this as a discipline.
My concern, obviously, now is moving forward into 2010. Our position is one of stressed stability. The international reactor community, as Dr. Bourguet has said, is working through AIPES to develop a plan for increasing supply from producers other than Petten over the course of the year. There is a meeting in Paris later this month of the producers, and after that they will be delivering a plan that will maximize utilization of reactors. AECL have indicated they anticipate being up and running in the first quarter of 2010. Clearly, we all hope this happens, but we have to plan for the situation should it not happen. That is the focus of my activities at the moment, and this coordination of reactor schedules and reactor activities is clearly going to help this.
Finally, we are continuing within the community to improve the way in which we use our resources. This involves the use of different isotopes--for instance, thallium imaging for the heart--for ensuring that we maximize the use of our generators.
There are three initiatives that are important going into the future. The Canadian Institute for Health Information, CIHI, will be looking at a detailed study of the impact on referrals, utilization, volumes, and technologist levels. We anticipate they will be reporting on this toward the end of the first quarter of 2010, so we will have a snapshot of what is happening at that time.
Second, I believe that the results of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research competition specifically looking at alternatives to current clinically used medical isotopes are a valuable and important tool for replacing, possibly urgently, some of our technetium products. I am currently discussing with the minister ways in which we can facilitate, as Dr. Doig said, the very rapid translation of this research into clinical practice. Seven proposals were approved for funding, of which at least four have the potential to have a major impact early on the practice of nuclear medicine.
Finally, we've heard that the expert review panel will be reporting at the end of this month. I believe this is a very important initiative and a very important report for the way in which we will practice our discipline.
Madam Chair, I am grateful for your indulgence in allowing me to talk a little longer. I'm grateful for the committee's indulgence.