Dr. Ayman Saleh
The Division of Haematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine, which also includes Bone Marrow Transplant services, has significantly enhanced and expanded the services provided and ensures high-quality care for paediatric cancer as well as blood diseases in children and adolescents aged 0-18 years.
Sidra Medicine is also working with local stakeholders and supporting research to improve paediatric cancer care in the country.
“The multi-disciplinary staff has the skills and experience needed to evaluate, interact with, and treat children suffering from cancer and blood diseases. We also run the Palliative Care Service, which provides symptom management and psychosocial support for patients with chronic and life-limiting conditions,” Division Chief of Haematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Ayman Saleh told The Peninsula.
According to Dr. Saleh, over the years, the Division of Haematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine has significantly enhanced its speciality paediatric haematology, oncology, and pre-and post-bone marrow services, and set up a specialized chemotherapy/ infusion centre, a transfusion unit, bleeding disorders factor replacement service, and other dedicated inpatient and outpatient units.
“We also established sub-speciality disease-specific clinics to better organise and deliver tailored, targeted care for patients, while expansion continued on the paediatric neuro-oncology service to streamline diagnoses and ensure high-quality care for children diagnosed with central nervous system tumours."
“We have dedicated clinics for leukaemia, lymphoma, solid tumours, Bone tumours, renal and liver tumours, Sickle cell disease and Thalassemia, haemophilia and other bleeding disorders, clotting disorders,” Dr. Saleh said.
According to Sidra Medicine’s 2022 annual report, 640 new patient visits were recorded and 3537 follow-up visits to our Haematology/ Oncology outpatient clinic. In addition, the hospital had 1,213 inpatient admissions. A total of 6500 treatment sessions were provided including chemotherapy, transfusion, and infusion of biotherapeutic agents in our outpatient centre. In addition, about 350 procedures were performed.
“We continued to collaborate closely with stakeholders throughout 2022, developing the paediatric chapter of the National Strategic Qatar Cancer Plan 2023 to 2026; clearing pathways for cancer referrals and counter-referrals across Qatar; and supporting local and international research, including with major international organizations,” said Dr. Saleh. Sidra Medicine is a member of Qatar’s Cancer Communication Working Group (CCWG) comprised of the National Cancer Program; the Ministry of Public Health; Hamad Medical Corporation; Primary Health Care Corporation; and the Qatar Cancer Society.
The Division of Haematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine has also published a groundbreaking clinical study on paediatric cancer tumours, which found that paediatric solid tumours can be divided into six different types according to their immunologic compositions and that different immune subtypes are associated with the distinct risk of death.
The team developed an immune signature, called Immunologic Constant of Rejection (ICR), which accurately predicted the risk of death in patients with certain aggressive tumours. “We actively partner with our research division to look into precision medicine approaches for our young patients. Whether it was manufacturing eye drops to treat ophthalmological complications caused by a rare blood disease, or looking into therapies that will enhance the care they receive at our hospital,” said Dr. Saleh.
