FILE PHOTO - Royal Inland Hospital

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

Building the new Kamloops cancer clinic will include a 25-year loan from the Thompson Regional Hospital District.

Around $51 million of the project will come out of property taxes, accounting for roughly 14% of the total cost, according to a hospital district report going to a meeting.

Health minister Adrian Dix released details on the long-awaited cancer clinic last month, which will bring radiation therapy to Royal Inland Hospital.

Months before the announcement, the hospital district launched a $75,000 advocacy campaign to put pressure on the province. The campaign continues despite assurances the work on the cancer clinic will start.

While the new facility means cancer patients won't have to travel to Kelowna for radiation therapy, it won't come without a hefty price tag. 

The estimated cost is $359 million with the new facility taking its first patients in 2028. The hospital district is expected to increase its portion of regional property taxes from 3% to 5%, largely to cover the cost of the cancer clinic.

In 2023, the hospital district spent $43.6 million on capital projects across the region. The City of Kamloops had the largest contribution by far, accounting for nearly 60% of the annual tax contribution.

The Thompson region's portion of the cancer clinic bill will include $10 million for a new MRI, $10 million for a parkade that will be included in the cancer clinic and $30 million for other improvements to the hospital, according to the report.

Property taxes won't be included to fund the radiation equipment, which is estimated to cost the province around $223 million, according to the report.

That's in addition to a $40 million overrun on other Royal Inland Hospital construction following the completion of Gaglardi Tower. Interior Health has asked the hospital district to give an additional $16 million for the roughly $400 million project.

The hospital district will meet Thursday to consider the new funding needs.

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