Yesterday, Ministry of Health launched the Oncology and Palliative Treatment Services Forum, which discusses latest developments in diagnosis and treatment of oncology for adults and children in all specialties, “radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, as well as targeted therapy and surgical treatment,” at Movenpick Hotel in Riyadh.
In his speech, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Allied Medical Services, Dr. Ahmed Al-Jadaie, discussed the Kingdom’s pioneering role and efforts in health services, including oncology treatment, and activating the National Tumor Registry, which in turn contributes to helping decision makers develop operational plans and future expectations regarding cancer and its related health repercussions.
One of the important aspects that the forum discusses is enhancing the quality of life, and examining ways of partnership between all health service providers in government and private sectors, in addition to the charitable sector.
For his part, the Director General of Specialized Centers Affairs, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sehaimy, explained that the forum aims to bring together those concerned with providing oncology services to discuss developments in oncology services and best treatment protocols, and to work on governance of procedures in a way that leads to facilitating services and obtaining cancer treatment services in a timely manner. As the treatment of cancers depends largely on early diagnosis, and the presence of specialists enhances the activation of the modern health care model of oncology pathways within the approved axes of service provision.
It is noteworthy that Ministry of Health paid great attention to this specialty, where the number of practitioners, including doctors, nurses, and all other supporting categories, increased from 723 practitioners to 1,205 practitioners, by 65%. It also witnessed an increase in the number of beds from 389 beds to 620 beds, by 59%, in addition to an increase in the number of centers that provide pediatric oncology treatment services from 4 centers to 8 specialized centers, as well as an increase in the provision of chemotherapy in various oncology centers by 90% from 10 centers to 19 centers, recording an increase in radiotherapy from 3 centers to 5 centers by 66%, and an increase in the number of palliative treatment centers from 10 centers to 18 centers by 80%.