Cancer treatment centre needed in every district

Cancer specialists and health policymakers yesterday agreed that the country needs cancer treatment centres in every district.

Considering the size of the population, Bangladesh needs about 160 cancer treatment facilities across the country, but at present there are 18 facilities, said Sarwar Alam, chairman, Department of Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

Noting that equipment needed for a cancer centre are very expensive, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim urged the private sector to set up more cancer hospitals.

They were addressing a roundtable discussion on cancer treatment organised by the Prothom Alo at its office in the capital.

"There are many rich people in the country. If they bought the equipment and donated them to the government hospitals, the poor people would be benefitted," said the minister.

Prof Md Ehteshamul Haque of Anwar Khan Modern Medical College urged the government to reduce tax on importing cancer treatment equipment to reduce the expenses of treatment.

"Specify a national rate for the therapies, medication and other services and reduce tax on anything related to cancer treatment," he said.

Sarwar Alam said counterfeit drugs were a main hurdle for cancer treatment in the country. "The country's cancer specialists have to work in fear of counterfeit drugs."

Parvin Akhter Banu, chief consultant of Delta Medical College, said since cancer treating drugs were expensive, they were more likely to be counterfeited.

"It is most unacceptable because any delay, substandard medication, and wrong treatment can make cancer incurable," she stressed.

She added that a majority of cancers could be cured if the treatment started at an early stage. "People need to be aware of the disease and where they should go if they have signs and symptoms of cancer."

Ferdous Shahriar Sayeed, consultant of medical oncology at United Hospital, said his patients often brought cancer treating drugs from abroad and asked him to apply those violating the standard protocol of using, carrying and storing of the drugs.

"No physician should apply any drugs that were not brought to the country following standard procedure," he said.

Prof Parvin Shahida Akhter of National Cancer Research Institute said there should be a medical oncology department to look after the storage, application and preparation of cancer drugs.