New specialised cancer centre to offer all services under one roof

Doha, Qatar: A new state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer centre is set to open in the coming years, marking a significant step forward in advancing cancer care in the country.

The new specialised cancer centre will offer treatment to citizens, residents, and international patients seeking cancer care in Qatar, said a senior official yesterday.

“The good news is that a new hospital is upcoming, which is great for cancer care. Thankfully, with the support of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a new, comprehensive hospital is being built,” said Dr. Mohamed Salem Al Hassan, Medical Director and CEO of National Centre for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR)  and Chair Corporate Cancer Services at Hamad Medical Corporation.

Dr. Mohamed Salem Al Hassan, Medical Director and CEO of NCCCR and Chair Corporate Cancer Services at Hamad Medical Corporation.

“Currently, cancer treatment is fragmented, causing patients to travel between hospitals. This can be very challenging for them. The new hospital will offer all services under one roof, including surgery and non-surgical treatments, so patients won’t have to suffer anymore,” he said, while speaking to media yesterday.

“We’ve already started the project, and hopefully, within two to three years, it will be completed. It will be a fantastic addition to cancer care,” said Dr. Al Hassan.

Aligned with the Qatar Cancer Plan 2023-2026, great care and consideration has been taken into account for the design of the new cancer centre.

As part of the ‘Your Health, Our Priority Campaign,’ a media tour of NCCCR was conducted to provide an overview of the personalised, multidisciplinary care and state-of-the-art facilities that deliver world-class standards of care to patients in Qatar and across the region.

The NCCCR features advanced treatment modalities, such as robotic-assisted surgery and innovative imaging techniques, enabling precise interventions that enhance patient outcomes. The hospital employs advanced technology to deliver holistic care that encompasses early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care.

Timely intervention is critical in cancer care and over 90% of suspected cancer patients at HMC are seen within 48 hours of referral — one of the fastest referral rates globally.

“A patient suspected of having cancer should be seen within 48 hours at a tertiary hospital. They must receive a diagnosis within 14 days and then be referred for specialised treatment within another 14 days,” said Dr. Salha Bujassoum, Chair of Medical Oncology at the HMC. 

“NCCCR offers multidisciplinary personalised care, facilitating services from diagnosis through treatment and prevention in a supportive environment. That considers variability in genes, tumor (immune) environment, and lifestyle and morbidities of each person diagnosed with cancer. The precision medicine has the potential to tailor medication to each patient’s specific genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors. By prioritising the optimisation of tumour response and minimising therapy side effects, patient care and quality of life can be significantly improved,” she added. “The radiotherapy department at the NCCCR is equipped with the most advanced technology available globally, ensuring precise efficiency and optimal patient outcome,” said Dr. Noora Al Hammadi, Chair and Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology, and Deputy Medical Director Administrative Support Services at the NCCCR.

“We utilise cutting-edge systems such as TrueBeam, CyberKnife and Ethos platform, representing the gold standard in the cancer treatment worldwide. TrueBeam stands out for its robust, accurate, efficient and rapid treatment delivery system. CyberKnife provides non-invasive robotic precision for treating complex cases, including brain and spinal tumours,” she said.

“Ethos introduces adaptive radiotherapy, enabling real-time adjustments to the treatment plan, based on the patient’s daily anatomy, enhancing personalisation and accuracy. These technologies, combined with the expertise of our multidisciplinary team, ensure that NCCCR remains at the forefront of global cancer care, offering our patient the most advanced radiotherapy treatment available today,” added Dr. Al Hammadi.

At NCCCR, its pharmacy leverages cutting-edge technology to ensure the highest standards of safety, precision, and efficiency in cancer treatment.  It uses advanced automated compounding systems to prepare chemotherapy drugs with incredible accuracy, reducing human error.