Six cancer treatment centres to be set up soon

Star: PENANG: Six regional chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment centres will be set up nationwide under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said two treatment centres would be set up in the central region and one each in the northern and southern regions, Sabah and Sarawak, and Kuantan, Pahang.
“This will make it easier for cancer patients to seek treatment without having to travel far,” he said yesterday at the launching of a RM5.5mil linear accelerator machine for cancer treatment and MS ISO 9001:2000 certification first anniversary celebration at the Mount Miriam Hospital here.
Dr Chua said the ministry planned to set up a National Cancer Institute at Putrajaya under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
“It is envisaged that the setting up of this institute, with state-of-the-art facilities, will enable it to take on the role of national referral centre and provide leadership in cancer prevention, treatment, research and training,” he said.
Dr Chua also said the ministry spent between RM7mil and RM8mil annually to subsidise the treatment of cancer patients in nine private centres nationwide.
He said about 40,000 new cancer cases occurred in the country each year, adding that Malaysian women recorded the highest rate of nasopharyngeal cancer in the world.
“Among the males, we are the second highest in the world for nasopharyngeal cancer,” he added.
Dr Chua said the number of larynx cancer cases among Indians in Malaysia was the highest among Asian countries.