The Yukon Hospital Foundation has promised to purchase a new CT scanner for Whitehorse General Hospital.
“This is our first major transfer of funds,” said foundation chair Keith Byram.
“There’s been some minor things purchased, but essentially we’ve been building up funds to get a major piece of equipment.”
Computed tomography scanners are medical imaging devices used to generate a three-dimensional X-ray image.
The hospital already owns and operates a CT scanner but because of technological advances it has quickly become outdated.
It is because of this that it was chosen above other items on the hospitals wish list, said Byram.
“The CT scanner requires very little in revised infrastructure,” he said.
On the other hand, a magnetic resonance imaging unit (MRI) would require additional space and staff to operate the device.
It is unknown how much the new scanner will cost as the hospital is currently assessing which model it needs.
It is estimated to cost up to $1.25 million.
The money is coming from the foundation’s Under Our Wing campaign to advance medical technologies.
Since its launch in 2005, the hospital foundation has raised $1.3 million in cash and commitments for the campaign.
Most recently, $116,000 was raised for the foundation by the annual Northwestel Festival of Trees.
The event also led to an additional $110,000 in sponsorship commitments.
“People and companies are extremely generous when it comes to providing things to increase our health care,” said Byram.
“It’s a big topic these days: where our health care is going and how we’re going to sustain it.”
“People and companies seem to like to do their part and provide those extra things that government at this time just can’t provide.”