By Caribbean Medical News Staff
Citizens of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will no longer have to battle with high travel expenses and long flights overseas in order to access treatment for cancers and other chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs). The reason for this is that a Caribbean Cancer Centre has been officially opened in St John’s Antigua.
The Cancer Centre was first thought of by the former prime minister, now opposition leader Baldwin Spencer and took three years after a ground breaking ceremony in 2012 to formal opening in June 2015.
In his opening speech, Spencer highlighted that “for the first time a large number of persons would have the opportunity for cancer care at affordable cost and accessible at their doorsteps. The Cancer Centre will improve the provision of accessible cancer treatment services throughout the sub region, since the centre will provide high quality medical radiation and surgical oncology services which will be markedly discounted for government supported patients.”
Cancer services at government hospitals throughout the OECS is expected to be boosted through regular oncology clinics, developing cost effective and safe chemo therapy services providing oversight and expertise in the various islands and by providing major cost savings to partner governments.
Head of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and prime minister of the Bahamas, Perry Christie, revealed that every year more than 1,000 persons are diagnosed with cancer in the OECS.
He also noted the opportunity for medical tourism even as he emphasized the importance of healthier lifestyles by regional citizens.
“The leading causes of death in Caribbean populations are cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Caribbean region leads the Americas in heart and blood vessel diseases, cancer, diabetes and lung disease mortality rates,” said the Bahamian PM.
The current Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne echoed the words of his Caribbean counterpart, informing that, since his administration took office, his health minister Molwyn Joseph has started a unique undertaking to help government ministers pay greater attention to their health; they are mandated to weigh themselves at the start of every cabinet meeting.
He stressed on the importance of the initiative, explaining that 75 percent of deaths in Antigua and Barbuda are from chronic non-communicable diseases especially cancer.
It is estimated that by year 2025 treatment of CNCDs will cost low and middle income countries a total of seven trillion dollars according to the World Economic Forum.
Although based in Antigua and Barbuda, the centre will be jointly owned by all OECS member states.
