First Dedicated Oncology Centre In Northern Region Set To Open June 30

By Samantha Tan GEORGE TOWN (Penang), June 27 (Bernama) -- The first dedicated oncology centre in the northern region is set to open for business on June 30 to ensure cancer patients receive accurate plan and treatment. Adventist Oncology Centre (AOC) is Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH)'s initiative to expand its existing cancer services in collaboration with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS). PAH Director of Business Development and Marketing Dr Jeremy Low said the AOC cost about US$10.57 million (RM40 million), with the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) providing RM1 million loan for its linear accelerator (LINAC), a device commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. (US$1 = RM3.78) "Our capacity is for each specialist in the outpatient department of AOC to see at least 30 patients daily. Currently, there are five consultation rooms," he told Bernama Saturday. Low said the three-storey AOC would have 20 chemotherapy bays, 28 bedded facilities for cancer patients, as well as, two bunkers, one for the linear accelerator while the other for more advanced mode of cancer treatment. He said the AOC was established to position PAH as a market leader for cancer care and services in the northern region by 2020, as well as, achieve 30 per cent of the total revenue of PAH with return on investments of at least 15 per cent by then. "In order to achieve this goal, 30-40 per cent growth in the number of new patients for the next five years will be the target. The LINAC must reach at least 70 per cent utilisation by end of the year," he said. Besides, the AOC would secure at least four oncologists and related medical professionals to spearhead a full range of oncology services, including breast, colon and gastrointestinal tract, lungs, gynaecology, head and neck, hepatobiliary system, prostate and urinary system, lymphomas, sarcomas and rare tumours. He said the other objective was to implement NCCS based quality initiatives in patient care, increasing access to the underserved and/or minority groups who have cancer and develop a cancer research fund to promote research. Low said the CT simulator from Toshiba (Japan) and linear accelerator from Elekta (Switzerland) were among the major equipments offered in the AOC building. "We already have a PET-CT for a number of years from General Electric (US), which was housed in the main PAH's building. This was another major piece of diagnosis equipment to capture clear pictures of cancer tumours in the body. "In future, we are considering Cyberknife and radio-tomography for the cancer centre," he added. The AOC establishment with the collaboration with NCCS will be the first of its kind in Malaysia to enable joint research and also bring in some of the most advanced clinical practices into Malaysia. --BERNAMA