Strategic Oncology Workforce Project

Addressing the growing demand for cancer care in Canada

Globally, demand for healthcare outpaces the supply of health human resources available, and the Canadian cancer workforce is no exception. Canada is experiencing critical shortages and departures among the health professionals responsible for diagnosing and treating cancer. Beyond rising vacancies and early retirements, staff are leaving due to higher workloads, emotional exhaustion, and administrative burdens.

At the same time, there are additional pressures on the cancer control system for a range of reasons: the aging Canadian population, better screening, and a rise in cancers due to population growth and aging. Meanwhile, advances in treatments such as targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and precision medicine are improving survival rates. This shift is turning cancer into a chronic disease, adding to the need for ongoing cancer care.

While progress is being made in some areas, bold and transformative change is needed to address the oncology workforce challenges in Canada. CAPCA is leading a Pan-Canadian Strategic Oncology Workforce Project to do just that. This initiative assesses the current state of Canada’s cancer care health human resources, identifies gaps in the workforce, and develops practical strategies to address them.

The goal is to ensure the cancer workforce can help patients and families access the right cancer care, in the right place, at the right time – today and in the future.

Who’s involved

With financial support from the Canadian Cancer Society, CAPCA undertook the pan-Canadian Strategic Oncology Workforce Project to assess the current state of the oncology workforce, identify successes and challenges, and explore opportunities to enhance workforce sustainability.

The initiative has been guided by a collaborative, pan-Canadian approach, engaging key system partners including provincial cancer agencies and programs, national professional associations, and workforce experts, to identify meaningful opportunities that can address workforce constraints.