Canadians to train local doctors in cancer care

LOCAL DOCTORS will receive top-of-the-line training in all areas of cancer treatment under the new national oncology programme. This was revealed by Comprehensive Care International (CCI) president and chief executive officer Katharine Jones. She was speaking at the recent signing ceremony at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce in Westmoorings to launch the development of this programme and a national oncology centre. The new centre will be headquarted at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC).

Noting that health care systems were not perfect in either TT or Canada, Jones said she was pleased to know that Government’s efforts to improve the delivery of health care, matched those currently being undertaken by the Canadian government. She said her organisation was happy that CCI would be intimately involved in the national oncology programme and would “provide education and training to local health practitioners to deal with all facets of cancer care.” Jones added that it was CCI’s fervent hope that this programme would lead to the creation of “an integrated system of care,” with collaboration from all stakeholder institutions (public and private) to make high quality health care accessible to the entire population. Information received by Newsday indicates that CCI has been a leader in cancer care delivery for over 50 years and the thr organisation currently has international health projects ongoing in TT, Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil and Nicaragua.

CCI is also highly regarded as “a leader in oncology-related knowledge management,” offering oncology services such as cancer screening and prevention, cancer treatment, research and clinical/medical programme development and implementation. Health Minister John Rahael said the development of the programme and centre will cost US$21 million with an additional US$1 to 2 million in construction costs. Rahael said 27 areas of deficiencies at EWMSC would be corrected to ensure that the facility could “deliver the service  required from the oncology centre. They have been identified and now we have been discussing with CIDA, another Canadian government organisation, to assist us in grant funding for some of those funds that are required to improve those areas,” he stated. The Minister said the centre would be fully operational within two years and would be able to provide treatment for cancer patients throughout the region.