- Plan lays foundation for new aspect of comprehensive cancer care and includes 87 clear, tangible and measurable deliverables under 23 strategic objectives
The Qatar Cancer Plan aims to further enhance the capacity and capability of the health system, and lays the foundation for a new aspect of comprehensive cancer care, including the psychological and social aspects of patients, it was highlighted at the launch event.
The ceremony included a presentation titled 'Journey Towards Excellence for All' and a presentation on the chapters of Qatar Cancer Plan 2023-2026. Additionally, a video was screened on patients, experts, medical facilities and the multidisciplinary team concerned.
Following that, HE the Prime Minister toured Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Center, where he was briefed on various specialised medical departments for cancer patient care, which are equipped with the latest medical technologies in healthcare services. He also visited the surgical skills laboratories and saw simulations of accidents and surgeries as well as the virtual reality techniques associated with the medical training plan for healthcare specialists.
HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari and a number of senior officials from the healthcare sector accompanied HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Addressing the launch ceremony, HE Dr al-Kuwari said: "The launch of the Qatar Cancer Plan comes within the framework of Qatar's keenness to provide the best sustainable health services to the current and future generations, in accordance with the directions of the leadership, and to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030.
"Through the Qatar Cancer Plan for 'Excellence for All', we strive to continuously improve the care we provide to cancer patients, their families and the community."
The Qatar Cancer Plan aims to further enhance the capacity and the capability of the health system, ensuring that the people of Qatar have access to the best possible care and to ensure that the country is rightly recognised as a regional leader in cancer care, HE the Minister stressed.
In his speech at the ceremony, director of the Public Health Department, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, explained that the Qatar Cancer Plan 2023-2026 lays the foundation for a new aspect of comprehensive cancer care, which includes the psychological and social aspects of patients.
The plan is characterised by developing clinical research and supporting international co-operation in this field through the establishment of the Cancer Research Office at the Ministry of Public Health.
For his part, chair of the National Cancer Governance Council, Professor Lord Darzi, gave a presentation on the highlights of the Qatar Cancer Plan 2023-2026, saying: "The plan sets out strategic objects and deliverables that will fundamentally alter how cancer care is delivered, introducing new services, facilities and models of care that will have direct impacts on the quality of care for those with cancer, and the support provided to patients, survivors, care givers and the wider community across Qatar."
Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders in the country and with the support of World Health Organisation (WHO) experts, the Qatar Cancer Plan 2023-2026 is based on a coherent strategic collaborative approach between all health authorities in the country to follow the patient's entire path, including awareness, prevention, early detection, proper diagnosis, holistic treatment and palliative care.
The plan includes 87 clear, tangible and measurable deliverables within a robust governance framework.
The plan's deliverables are based on the fundamental importance of improving cancer care services, highlighting the importance of investing in this area for its benefits at the level of public health and the well-being these bring to the people of Qatar, contributing to saving lives, improving the care and support provided to the population, and achieving positive returns on investment through better value, which supports the provision of sustainable health services.
The deliverables of the Qatar Cancer Plan are organised under 23 strategic objectives across seven chapters: prevention and public education, early detection and screening, quality treatment and ongoing care, holistic support, childhood cancers, surveillance and research, and strategic enablers.
The Qatar Cancer Plan builds upon the strong foundations laid through the National Cancer Strategy 2011-2016 and the National Cancer Framework 2017-2022, which have contributed to achieving excellence in cancer care in Qatar by providing high-quality care services to the entire population.
One of the achievements is that Qatar is the first in the world where a cancer suspected patient receives secondary medical care from a specialist within 48 hours, the disease is diagnosed within two weeks, and the patient receives treatment within two more weeks.
In a press conference held on the occasion of the plan's launch, CEO and medical director of the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) Mohamed Salem Jaber al-Hassan said there is a quantum leap in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment in Qatar, as the plan comes to reinforce this great effort made by the health sector to fight the disease.
Many new initiatives and programmes have been created to detect and treat cancer, including early detection for those who have a higher risk such as those having relatives with cancer, and new treatment techniques that depend on the genes of the patient himself, so that the treatment is personalised and varies from patient to patient, he said.
He explained that the home care service is currently being provided to cancer patients upon request, and there is a tendency to treat some cancer patients in their homes through a specialised medical team according to the patients' condition. These services fall within the framework of facilitating patients who do not wish to stay in the hospital on the condition that their condition allows them to do so.
The director of Early Detection Programmes at Primary Health Care Corporation, Dr Sheikha Abu Sheikha, said the Qatar Cancer Plan will enhance efforts aimed at the early detection of cancer in Qatar and provide important tools to reduce the disease, on the one hand, and provide appropriate treatment at the right time for patients, on the other.
She explained that the cancer early detection programme, which currently targets early detection of bowel and breast cancer, intends to expand detection to other cancers, such as lung cancer, cervical cancer and thyroid cancer.