So the effect would be the same as not having any medical isotopes at all. We're beginning to see rationed access and staff lay-offs, and departmental closures would be a potential if the costs become incremental. The effect of this will not be in the urban centres; the effect will be in the smaller community hospitals across Canada that rely on nuclear medicine services, and it will have a patchwork but definite impact. If this were to occur, the negative impact on patient care would be profound, as we've heard before.
Not only are we looking at the present, but we have to look at what nuclear medicine will offer in the future in the role of personalized medicine. This looks at the ability to tailor treatment and diagnosis based on the characteristics of the disease process. In order for this to occur and in order for Canadian patients to access this, we will need a very strong nuclear medicine capacity in Canada that will be supported by research into the development of medical isotopes as well as pharmacological agents to allow us to position patients in a way that they can garner good access to medical care in a timely fashion.
There has been discussion in the past about the need for medical isotopes. This has been a discussion we've heard both in the lay press and through various committee meetings. In North America there has been a valuation for nuclear cardiology that between 2008 and 2012 we anticipate about a 46% increase in demand for nuclear services just to assess the heart. With general nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography, we're looking at an approximate 11% increase in demand over that same time period. This is just in North America.
If one takes into account the potential increases we will see in the Middle East, Africa, China, India, and South America, there will be a worldwide increase in demand for medical isotopes. If the Canadian infrastructure is not in place to ensure that Canada still plays a role in development, we will be competing with larger markets to ensure our Canadian population has access to nuclear medicine services. This is vital. This is not just looking at how we will compete in Canada but how we will compete in the world. If we're not positioned, then we may not do well.
What is the reason for this increase? Nuclear medicine is a procedure that is exceedingly cost-effective. It is one of the cheaper diagnostic procedures when compared with CT and MRI interventional procedures. The unique diagnostic capability and the impact on patient care is almost as if it's a beautiful thing coming together. We have a good technology that has impact and that is cost-effective.
Canada has traditionally been a leader in medical isotope production and distribution. In light of world trends, I think we have to continue this. Canada must be positioning itself to take the leadership role in this growth industry. Unfortunately, the message Canada has been sending over the last six months is that it may not be actively involved in this. The cancellation of the MAPLE reactors had an impact that caught us completely off guard. Statements from the Prime Minister's Office stating that by 2016 Canada will no longer be in the medical isotope business are sending the message nationally, provincially, locally, and internationally that Canada is well on its way to becoming a bit player on the world stage rather than being the leaders we have been for the last 50 years. This is a sad reflection.
What is our current status? Right now we are entirely dependent on foreign sources of medical isotopes. As mentioned, the various companies have done a good job.