Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi, Senior Consultant Physician and Chairman of Medical Oncology and Hematology Department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR).
Doha: The breast cancer survival rate in Qatar has touched remarkable level of 85 percent as a result of high standards of diagnosis and treatment methods. The survival rate is also considered higher than other countries, said Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi (pictured), Senior Consultant Physician.
“According to our statistics the breast cancer survival rate is 85 percent from diagnosis to five years and it is considered very good compared to other countries,” said Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi, who is also Chairman of Medical Oncology and Hematology Department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR).
He also said that patients with cancers such as breast, lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma have a good response to treatment, while some types like pancreatic cancer and liver cancer have less response to treatment. However, the response to treatment could be 100 percent if the cancer is detected at an early stage.
The NCCCR offers patients a range of dedicated, specialised care and a unique range of services including urgent care, hematology and oncology as well as palliative care. Suspected cancer cases are seen sooner, diagnosis is more accurate and faster, care pathways are smoother and support for patients along their treatment pathway is more comprehensive.
“We have a patient oriented pathway for cancer care. Any suspected case of cancer will be referred to us by physicians from public and private healthcare facilities. And we are obliged to see the person within 48 hours,” said Dr Al Homsi.
Also the number of patients seeking cancer care in foreign countries has dramatically fallen due to the improved services at NCCCR.
“Number of patients going abroad has reduced a lot. We have a committee to approve on medical grounds if a patients’ needs to go abroad for treatment. Only in case if the patient is with uncommon type of cancer would need to go abroad, such cases are very rare,” said Dr Al Homsi. The National Cancer Framework 2017–2022 stipulates a number of recommendations for improving the cancer journey for patients and these recommendations translate to direct improvements in patient care at NCCCR.
“The framework reinforces the need for rapid diagnosis, multi-disciplinary sub-specialised precision cancer treatment, supported by local access to world leading clinical research programmes,” said Dr Al Homsi. Also the medical education and research programs are a strong focus for staff at NCCCR and efforts in these areas are translated into improvements in patient care.
NCCCR has received accreditation by Joint Commission International (JCI) again in year 2016. JCI accreditation is based on quality and safety across all clinical and management functions. In addition, NCCCR has been chosen as one of three hospitals in the Middle East to pilot a new hand hygiene initiative by JCI, based on their attention to quality and patient safety.
