500 more cancer patients to get free treatment at IHH Healthcare Malaysia hospitals

The Star

An additional 500 cancer patients will receive free treatment at IHH Healthcare Malaysia hospitals starting this month, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.  This positive news comes following the signing of a third memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the ministry and IHH Healthcare Malaysia.  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/45m8bscz   WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00The growing burden of cancer in Malaysia is not just, again, a statistic.

00:04It is a pressing challenge that touches thousands of families and demands our collective attention.

00:11Every case of an announcement or diagnosis of cancer is catastrophic to any family.

00:20You just couldn't imagine. It's like being given a death sentence once upon a time.

00:24Now, according to the Department of Statistics, Malaysia, DOSM, cancer has become the third leading cause of death.

00:31First is, of course, IHD. Second is now pulmonary lung.

00:37And, of course, now it is cancer stage, rising from 12.6% in 2022 to 13.8% in 2023.

00:48You should get the latest statistic on this.

00:49Now, from 2020 to 2024, Malaysia's National Cancer Registry recorded more than 165,000 new cases

01:00with breast, colorectal, lung, lymphoma, and liver cancer being the most common.

01:07Alarmingly, over 60% of cases are detected at the late stages when treatment is more complex, costly, and less effective.

01:22MOH is fully committed to confronting this challenge head-on.

01:26Beyond prevention and awareness, we are building a comprehensive system of care.

01:32One that ensures timely, equitable, affordable treatment for all Malaysians.

01:39Hopefully, leaving no one behind.

01:42A very bold mission indeed.

01:45Hence, strategic partnership with the private sector are a critical part of this response.

01:51The MOH-IHH Healthcare Malaysia Collaborations epitomizes or exemplifies this spirit,

01:59combining public responsibility with private sector excellence to deliver real outcome for patients.

02:08This initiative is also aligned with the National Strategic Plan for Cancer Control,

02:13which prioritizes early detection, effective treatment, palliative care, and system-wide coordination

02:20to reduce the national cancer burden.

02:24Ladies and gentlemen, since its inception in 2022,

02:29this collaboration has benefited 1,000 patients

02:32who receive high-quality radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatment at no cost,

02:37either to them or to the government,

02:40delivered to them by MOH oncologists and neurosurgeons via IHH facilities.

02:48Don't you think they deserve a big round of applause?

02:55With the latest renewal, we are extending care to an additional 500 cancer patient.

03:02This agreement also brings the total number of participating IHH facilities

03:06facilities to aid hospital.

03:08Yeah?

03:09Aid hospital, correct.

03:11Yeah?

03:11Island, hospital in Penang, Glen Eagles, Johor, Glen Eagles, KL, Glen Eagles, Penang.

03:18Yeah?

03:19Pantai Hospital IKRO, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur,

03:22and Pantai Hospital Penang, and of course, Prince Court.

03:26Yeah?

03:27These facilities are equipped with gamma knives.

03:30And I did not say this earlier.

03:36With INAX, I said PET scan, did I?

03:41Got you there.

03:43No one interrupted.

03:45Very kind of you.

03:47On the, you know, the linear accelerator,

03:51the INAX technology is allowing for precise high-impact treatment,

03:56especially for tumors, location, and sensitive areas.

04:00You know, sub-millimeter, millimeter, you know, kind of precision.

04:05Yeah?

04:05We should never allow a patient's health outcome to be dictated

04:09by where they live or how much they earn.

04:12Yeah?

04:12This collaboration is a concrete step towards closing the excess gap

04:17for the underserved and the lower-income groups.

04:22It is also, it also reflects the Malaysia's broader commitment

04:26to Universal Health Coverage, UHC,

04:29where cancer is not treated as a privilege but as a right.

04:34Yeah?

04:34By embedding services like radiotherapy and radiosurgery

04:39within smart public-private models,

04:42we are showing how reform can be delivered

04:45with both compassion and precision.

04:48Yeah?

04:49But let me be clear, we cannot do this alone.

04:52We need all hands on the deck, as I always said.

04:57MOH calls for sustained commitment from all stakeholders,

05:00from the public and private sectors,

05:02healthcare professionals, civil society,

05:04and our research community to continue building a system

05:08where early detection, advanced treatment,

05:11and compassionate support are available to every patient,

05:16everywhere, at any time.

05:20In closing, let us again reaffirm our shared resolve

05:23to deliver on the promise of health equity,

05:27to leave no patient behind,

05:29and to make quality healthcare not a slogan but a reality for all.

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