Advocacy group pleased with RM1 bln allocation for new Sarawak Cancer Centre

by · Borneo Post Online
Photo shows Dayang Mariani (second right) and Cheng (second left), together with committee members, presenting their cancer centre wishlist to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian (centre), who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government.

KUCHING (Oct 20): The Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (Scan) welcomes the announcement by Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the RM1 billion allocation for a new Sarawak Cancer Centre.

Scan advisor Datin Dayang Mariani Abang Zain expressed her relief that their long-standing request for a dedicated cancer centre is becoming a reality.

She highlighted that the current Oncology Unit in Kuching, which is over 30 years old, has become overcrowded and unconducive for cancer patients.

“We have been advocating for this for many years, and finally our request is becoming a reality.

“The wards, operating theatres, treatment rooms and even consultation rooms are always packed and unsuitable for cancer patients, particularly since patients from the whole of Sarawak come to Kuching for their radiotherapy sessions,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile, Scan president Chris Cheng emphasised that the new centre should be equipped with proper equipment, sufficient maintenance budget and allocation of human resources.

“Currently, there are only seven oncologists under the Sarawak Health Ministry serving a population of 2.56 million, which falls short of the recommended ratio of 1 oncologist per 100,000 people,” he said.

Cheng also urged the government to find ways to deliver newer treatments to patients who need them, because cancer treatment can be very expensive and out of reach for certain people, especially those in the B40 and even M40 groups.

“With better cancer care in the state, we hope that even those in the remote areas could have access to cancer care,” he said.

Scan is a registered society and a UICC member that was established to become the unified voice for all cancer patients to improve access to high-quality public health care and to create cancer awareness for the general public to increase survival.

For more information about Scan, visit www.scan.org.my or its Facebook page at fb.com/scankch.