All decked in pink: Fadillah (fifth from left) and Dzulkfley (fourth from left) witnessing the presentation of the Malaysia Book of Records certificate for the ‘Largest Human Pink Ribbon Formation’ with the participation of 2,050 people at the opening ceremony of the Pink October Carnival 2024 at the National Cancer Institute in Putrajaya. — Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: Cancer patients have more options now that they can soon get treatment at two new cancer centres which will be set up in Kedah and Sarawak, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah said the new centres were to ensure that quality treatment was accessible to the public regardless of where they are.
He said the new centres are the Northern Region Cancer Centre in Kedah and the Sarawak Cancer Centre in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak.
“This is a significant step toward ensuring that quality cancer treatment is accessible to the public, regardless of geographic location,” he said during his speech at the opening of the Pink October Carnival 2024 organised by the National Cancer Institute here yesterday, Bernama reported.
He added that resources will continue to be allocated to enhance research, treatment facilities and cancer prevention programmes, considering the burdens faced by patients and their families.
Also present was Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad who said the establishment of two cancer centres in Kedah and Sarawak will enhance services for the public, eliminating the need for patients to travel to Kuala Lumpur for treatment and therapy.
Dzulkefly also said the number of oncologists in Malaysia is expected to increase by more than twofold to 400 by 2040.
He said this target can be achieved with Malaysia’s participation in the
Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) in Clinical Oncology. Currently the number stands at 175.
“The National Cancer Institute will continue to be a centre of excellence and participate in the FRCR. This aligns with the Health Ministry’s efforts to increase the number of oncologists,” he said after the launch of the event.
According to the latest National Cancer Registry Report, breast cancer remains a major threat to women in the country, with statistics showing an incidence rate of 38.9 per 100,000 women from 2017 to 2021.
Malaysia has witnessed a significant increase in reported cancer cases between 2017 and 2021, he added.
As such, Fadillah emphasised the importance of strengthening efforts to raise awareness, promote prevention, enable early diagnosis and most importantly, ensure quality treatment for those in need.
This year’s Pink October Carnival carries the theme “Living Well, Living Together,” highlighting the values of awareness, strength and togetherness, emphasising the importance of prevention, early detection and effective treatment.
