The transformation of Qatar’s cancer services in recent years has resulted in the development of a comprehensive care and increased survival rates that match global standards.
Cancer care in the country has improved because of comprehensive national strategies, innovative technology and successful screening programmes, said officials yesterday.
The survival rates of Qatari patients have reached 89 percent for breast cancer, 69 percent for colorectal cancer, 67 percent for leukaemia, and 90 percent for thyroid cancer, said Dr Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, Director Public Health, Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).
“Cancer is one of the diseases that constitutes a global burden on the health budget in many countries, including Qatar. Addressing such diseases has been a priority for health officials in the country in line with the provisions of the cancer strategy,” he said addressing a press conference held yesterday to announce the achievements of cancer care in the county.
It was held to coincide with the World Cancer Day 2020 which is being commemorated today under the theme ‘I am and I will.’ The theme is an empowering call for personal commitment and represents the power of our actions taken now to reduce the growing impact of cancer.
Health officials highlighted that implementation of National Cancer Strategy (2011), Qatar National Cancer Research Strategy (2012), and National Cancer Framework (2017-2022), has made great progress in the fight against cancer in Qatar.
“Today, Hamad Medical Corporation’s(HMC) cancer services are benchmarked against best international practices and are recognised by international research study groups. Therefore, Qataris do not need to seek treatment abroad anymore,” said Dr Al Hareth. M Al Khater, Deputy Medical Director, National Centre for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) of HMC.
“NCCCR offers cancer care that incorporates the latest technology in the field of minimally invasive procedures, investigation and diagnostic tests as well as stem cell and bone marrow transplant,” he added.
According to Dr Al Khater, the number of patients treated at NCCCR has increased throughout the past few years at an average of 13 percent per year. The number of Day Case Visits has increased by more than 65 percent since 2013.
NCCCR has successfully performed 53 autologous stem cell transplants since 2015 and 12 allogeneic blood stem cell transplants since 2017. More than one hundred patients have benefited from the cutting-edge M6 CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system since it was installed in 2015. P3
