Linear cancer treatment centre opens in St Andrew

Cancer care delivery in the public health system has been further boosted with opening of Jamaica’s second National Linear Cancer Treatment Centre.

The $860 million facility, constructed at St Joseph’s Hospital in St Andrew, was formally opened yesterday by Health Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton.

Financing was provided by the National Health Fund, the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, and Tourism Enhancement Fund.

The centre’s opening comes just over a year after a similar facility, developed at a cost of $770.9 million, commenced operations at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St James.

The centre, similar to the Montego Bay-based facility, utilises state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machines to administer radiation therapy.

Tufton, who delivered the keynote address, said that cancer is among the lifestyle and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for approximately 70 per cent of the 18,000 to 20,000 Jamaicans succumbing to health-related illnesses annually, adding that it is second behind cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Tufton said the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that 7, 348 Jamaicans will be diagnosed with the disease in 2018, with prostate cancer accounting for 17 per cent of cases, and breast cancer – 13 per cent.

He noted that the first line of defence is always prevention, by encouraging persons to exercise, eat a balanced diet, and knowing their health status in order to minimise risks. However, the Government is cognisant that beyond prevention, “you have to invest in the curative side of things.”

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