Gov’t decisions on cancer patients ‘step in right direction’, but long road ahead

AMMAN — Cancer patients welcomed Prime Minister Omar Razzaz’s announcement on the treatment exemptions and facilitation processes, describing them as “a great measure”, but only “the first step” towards granting patients their rights and meeting all their demands.

The government has announced on Tuesday that it will issue cards for cancer patients to ease their referral to the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) for treatment or other public or military-run hospitals.

The decision entails giving authorisations to heads of public hospitals across Jordan to transfer cancer patients directly to the KHCC, public hospitals and other medical institutions affiliated with the Royal Medical Services without the need to go through a special medical committee, said Razzaz.

“This is a great start and we are glad that Razzaz is the first premier to hear and respond to cancer patients,” Cancer patient Abdulmunem Mashaqba told The Jordan Times, adding “receiving free treatment is a basic right for citizens, yet cancer patients need additional help and support”.

“We previously used to receive treatment for all the diseases we suffer from as a result of the cancer treatment, not only for the tumour itself,” 47-year-old cancer patient said, adding that “the chemical and radiation therapy we receive leave us with severe side effects that require treatment”. 

“Old patients who were treated from tumour should still receive treatment for the diseases that resulted from the cancer therapy in the same place where they were treated so that they would be treated by doctors familiar with their case who can provide further treatment accordingly,” cancer patient Om Ahmad said, adding “I was treated for breast cancer in my right breast in 2004, but then I had cancer again in 2018 in the left one, which urges the need to provide patients with continued follow up and care.” 

Abu Salem also noted that most cancer patients live in distant places from the King Hussein Cancer Centre, to which most cases are referred, and the commute to the centre presents a heavy financial burden as well as an inconvenience on patients. “Why not provide cancer patients with transportation exemptions just like people with motor disabilities are provided?” Abu Salem asked.

Mashaqba and Abu Salem called for a fund that provides cash and in-kind aid for cancer patients who “can no longer work and support their families due to their medical condition”.

“I used to earn money from my work as a porter, but now I can no longer do this job, and the military pension I receive from serving in the army is not enough,” Mashaqba explained.

For Mousa Al Ryashat, founder and director of Friends of Cancer Patients Organisation, “we are very optimistic about the new government which remembered [cancer] patients in its first set of measures and announcements as the decision is on the right path and brings things back to its normal situation.”

“We have sent the previous government several letters and we conducted campaigns and protests to support the patients who used to suffer from the long and overbearing measures before receiving treatment,” Ryashat clarified.

He also highlighted that the cancer department at Al Bashir Public Hospital should no longer receive patients “unless it is rehabilitated and refurbished”.

For his part, Health Ministry Spokesperson Hatem Azrui said that the ministry is working towards “realising” the prime minister’s announcements and taking the necessary measures to issue cards for cancer patients to ease their referral for treatment.

“These measures will put an end to the previous bureaucracy and help cancer patients receive treatment easily and more quickly,” the spokesperson told The Jordan Times.