🩺 Public Health Watch: Ontario Accelerates Access to Cancer Care with New FAST Program

Ontario’s FAST Program Sets a New Standard in Public Health Care Access

TORONTO — Ontario is taking a bold step in modernizing cancer care by expanding its new Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments (FAST) program, the first of its kind in Canada. Announced on January 22, 2026, by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, the initiative is accelerating access to six breakthrough cancer drugs—cutting down patient wait times by nearly a full year.

“For every Ontarian facing a cancer diagnosis, timely access to high-quality treatment can make all the difference,” said Minister Jones during a press conference in Toronto. “Through the FAST program, we’re accelerating access to life-saving therapies across the province, bringing hope, peace of mind, and transformative care to those who need it most.”

Six Cancer Treatments Now Fast-Tracked

Since launching in October 2025, the FAST pilot has approved six life-extending cancer therapies for earlier access through Ontario’s public drug plan:

• TAGRISSO: For lung cancer

• SCEMBLIX: For leukemia

• NUBEQA: For prostate cancer

• CALQUENCE: For lymphoma

• OPDIVO + YERVOY (Combo): For colorectal and liver cancers

With these fast-tracked approvals, patients can now begin treatment up to 12 months sooner than under traditional funding pathways.

For Ontarians facing a cancer diagnosis, timely access to treatment can make all the difference.

That’s why our government is accelerating access to six life-saving therapies, bringing hope, peace of mind, and care to those who need it most.

🔗https://t.co/UwQXbFBs3t pic.twitter.com/Xs88Z0UKUY

— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) January 22, 2026

A Shift in How Public Health Care Works

Under the current system, Canadian patients often wait up to two years for new cancer drugs to become publicly accessible—significantly longer than wait times in many other developed nations. Ontario’s FAST program is tackling that issue head-on.

The pilot program focuses on medicines approved through Project Orbis, a global initiative that streamlines regulatory reviews for promising cancer therapies. Ontario aims to accelerate 7 to 10 additional drugs annually under FAST.

“Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) applauds the Government of Ontario,” said Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of IMC. “Ontario is setting a clear standard for the rest of the country—demonstrating how timely access to innovative medicines can be achieved.”

Building a Healthier Ontario

The FAST initiative is a key component of Ontario’s broader strategy: Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care. It joins a suite of programs aimed at modernizing the health system, investing in early diagnostics, and improving access to critical medicines and rare disease treatments.

In 2025 alone, Ontario invested:

• $9.5 billion in drug benefit programs

• $2.75 billion specifically for cancer drugs and supportive therapies

• $489 million to fund rare disease drugs for 55 conditions

FAST is expected to undergo a full evaluation after its three-year pilot to assess its long-term potential and patient outcomes.

📍 Public Health Watch is GTA Weekly’s look at health care, wellness, and medical breakthroughs affecting communities across the GTA and beyond. Follow us @GTAWeeklyNews for weekly updates.