People who have been waiting for bone scans and other treatments in Saskatoon will have to wait longer after the health region cancelled some procedures because of a shortage of medical isotopes.

The isotopes are used for diagnosing everything from cancer to kidney failure.

The health region said it was expecting to get one-18th of its usual allotment for use this week.

Corey Miller, the region's director of medical imaging and nuclear medicine, told CBC News on Monday that the region will dedicate what resources it has to its most urgent patients.

"We will be phoning patients to postpone their appointments," Miller said on Monday. "We will not, on that phone call, be giving them a new appointment until such time that we have a better understanding of how long and how extensive the shortage will be of this radio-isotope."

Miller said the region would also be employing techniques, suggested by Health Canada, on how to maximize the amount of material they do have.

Alternate tests

He added that some diagnostic information can be obtained by using alternate tests, such as a CT scan.

"There's always the desire to get the most information possible, but we will do our best with the technology we have in front of us," Miller said.

Medical isotopes have a very short shelf life.

In Canada, the Chalk River nuclear facility is not producing any more while it is shut down. There is also a limited supply of isotopes from elsewhere around the world.

Miller said that procedures for 14 patients were postponed because of the shortage last week and that 53 people would be notified of a postponement this week.

"It is serious," Miller said. "Physicians aren't able to get all of the studies that they want. But at least we're getting some activity to manage the most urgent clients that we have."