KHCC detaches itself from controversial decision on cancer patients’ referral

AMMAN — The King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) on Sunday stressed that it was not involved in the government's recent decision not to transfer a "large number" of cancer patients from public hospitals to KHCC, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In a statement released on Sunday, KHCC also called on the concerned agencies to reverse the decision and to cooperate in finding a final solution and a mechanism to cover the treatment of cancer patients.

For humanitarian reasons, the centre said it has been covering its treatment of thousands of "underprivileged" cancer patients through the establishment of charity funds whose revenues, it said, only "cover a small portion of the high-cost cancer treatment”.

KHCC also stressed that it is the first and only centre of its kind in the region that offers the latest comprehensive care and that it will continue to treat its patients according to international standards.

Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab has recently stressed that patients' referral to that KHCC for treatment "still exists and will continue" in response to previous reports that claimed the ministry halted financial coverage of cancer and other chronic diseases’ treatment to reduce expenses.

On Saturday, the Health Ministry reiterated that, in cases where cancer treatment is not available at public hospitals, patients can be transferred to other centres including King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) "regardless of the cost", noting that many of the patients who visited the ministry and the Royal Medical Services' hospitals, have been transferred to KHCC.

The ministry added that if medications are not available at the hospitals, they will be provided "without hesitation and at any price".