Ministry of Health looks at setting up Cancer Centre

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has held a workshop to look into the need for a National Cancer Centre. The Ministry currently suffers from shortages in cancer staff and specialists, and there are very low rates and possibilities for the receipt of specialist cancer treatment.

This lack specialist treatment, alongside the prohibitive costs of cancer drugs and surgery is an obstacle to the establishment of the centre and discourages donors. Nevertheless, given that the number of cancer patients over the past ten years is approaching 5,000 in the Gaza Strip alone, the Ministry is still looking at possibilities.

Treating cancer patients from Gaza overseas is a very expensive option, particularly for patients suffering with tumours and blood disorders. Tumour treatment constitutes 25 per cent of the total budget set aside for treatment abroad and came to 19 million Shekels last year; costs for the 831 patients with blood conditions came to 18 million Shekels.

MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad