KUALA LUMPUR: Medium and long-term plans to enhance cancer care services, particularly in rural areas, have been unveiled by the Health Ministry as part of the 12th and 13th Malaysia Plans (12MP and 13MP).
When it comes to the medium-term initiatives, the ministry said it remains committed to improving holistic cancer treatment across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.
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“This includes increasing patient access to activities related to prevention, screening, immunisation, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
“Specialised, comprehensive and integrated cancer treatment services will be expanded for secondary and tertiary care.
“These efforts will ensure the availability of modern medical infrastructure, equipment, drugs and a skilled workforce,” the ministry said in a written reply to Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PH-Mersing) in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
It added that by 2025, chemotherapy will be available in 41 hospitals nationwide, while oncology services for adults will be accessible at eight major cancer centres, including the National Cancer Institute and hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.
The plan also includes deploying resident oncologists to Hospital Alor Gajah in Melaka, and expanding services through visiting specialists at two hospitals without resident specialists – Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang and Hospital Seberang Jaya in Penang.
Paediatric cancer care will also be provided in 65 hospitals nationwide.
Further, paediatric hemato-oncology services will be strengthened at seven hospitals comprising Hospital Tunku Azizah in Kuala Lumpur, and hospitals in Terengganu, Penang, Ipoh in Perak, Johor Baru, Likas in Sabah, and Kuching in Sarawak.
The plans also include placing resident paediatric haemato-oncology specialists at two hospitals, namely Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Setar, Kedah, and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan in Kuantan, Pahang.
Additionally, the ministry plans to broaden radiotherapy services through the Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme (HSOP) and enhance cancer risk detection and prevention initiatives.
These activities, including screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal and oral cancers, as well as HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccinations, will be conducted not only in clinics but also through mobile health teams reaching rural and remote areas.
For its long-term plans under the 13MP and beyond, the ministry said it wants to expand oncology and cancer treatment services by placing resident oncologists at six additional hospitals from 2026 to 2029.
The hospitals are Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan in Kuantan, Pahang; Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Setar, Kedah; Hospital Pakar Sultanah Fatimah in Muar, Johor; Tawau Hospital in Sabah; Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail in Batu Pahat, Johor; and Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan, Sabah.
There will be further service expansions through visiting specialists to hospitals without resident oncologists, like Beaufort Hospital in Sabah and Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom, Kluang in Johor.
The ministry said the development of comprehensive cancer centres is another significant part of the plan.
“This includes the newly approved Sarawak Cancer Centre and the Northern Region Cancer Centre in Kedah, both in the pre-implementation phase.
“Plans also involve developing nuclear medicine and diagnostic services, such as the Nuclear Imaging & PET Service Project at Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor.”
By 2045, it said development of oncology facilities is expected across all states and major cities in Sabah and Sarawak.
“The ministry also intends to reinforce public-private partnerships through HSOP to maintain continuous access to cancer care services nationwide,” it said.
