Varian and Nova Scotia Health Form Multi-Disciplinary Partnership to Advance Cancer Care

Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, and Nova Scotia Health have formed a 10-year, $175 million CAD (approx. $131 million USD) multi-disciplinary oncology partnership (MDOP) designed to deliver value across the Nova Scotia Health system by accelerating the patient journey from screening to survivorship. 

Nova Scotia has a population of over 1 million with an incidence of cancer that is above average. Together, Nova Scotia Health and Varian aim to catalyze change and improve survival rates by building the oncology ecosystem of the future. The multi-disciplinary oncology partnership agreement reflects the synergistic value of the Siemens Healthineers and Varian combination, where the combined company is actively working on optimizing patient care across the cancer care pathway by pioneering solutions to enhance workflows, improve efficiencies, and make treatments more precise. 

Since December 2022, Varian and Nova Scotia Health have collaborated closely to build the foundation of a unified, connected cancer care network. With this agreement, Nova Scotia Health expands the scope of the previous oncology transformation agreement and will unify oncology patient data across oncology disciplines throughout the entire province by installing a suite of Varian software. From a single source, care teams across the province will possess a more holistic understanding of their patients and gain deeper insights to deliver more personalized care. To enhance adoption of these sophisticated technologies, Nova Scotia care teams will leverage Varian's Advanced Oncology Solutions (AOS) professional services to provide overall cancer operations support and to continue to advance the provincial oncology program. 

Furthermore, Nova Scotia Health will upgrade its radiation treatment systems to the state-of-the-art Ethos radiotherapy systems with HyperSight imaging. The Ethos system leverages artificial intelligence with the goal to improve precision and speed during treatment delivery. These products aim to expedite care decisions, enhance precision of treatment, and save patients time during treatment. 

The partnership also creates an opportunity for economic growth. Varian will establish a new office in Halifax in the first half of 2024 and has committed $50 million CAD (approx.$ 38 million USD) in payroll and rent over the 10 years, providing a minimum of 60 jobs in Nova Scotia over that period. From its Nova Scotia office, Varian will work to develop a digital imaging concept, with feedback from Nova Scotia Health. In addition, Nova Scotia Health will be able to leverage the expertise of Siemens Healthineers in the area of artificial intelligence as an incubator for new products and solutions. If the digital imaging concept is successfully commercialized, Varian will establish an MDOP Innovation Fund for future Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub projects. 

“Fixing healthcare in our province means keeping pace with the latest advancements in technology, equipment, and training,” said Premier Tim Houston. “This partnership will foster a future where cancer care is a journey filled with hope, support, and unparalleled advancements.”

“We are so impressed with the magnitude and breadth of Nova Scotia Health’s ambition to not only stay on the cusp of advances in cancer care but also contribute to creating those advances so that patients can receive better, more effective, more coordinated care,” said Arthur Kaindl, Head of Varian. “This agreement brings to life our shared commitment to providing solutions across the cancer care continuum by addressing the needs of clinicians, program leaders, and the patients we all ultimately serve."