Healthcare Development; A Future Vision to Combat Cancer in Yemen

Hebah Mohammed – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

Amidst the immense health challenges facing Yemen, improving the quality of healthcare services provided to cancer patients remains vital. The need for a comprehensive future vision to develop these services is crucial to ensuring the provision of appropriate and effective healthcare for patients.

Yemen, despite its significant challenges, deserves advanced and innovative healthcare befitting all its citizens, especially those affected by cancer. In this report, we spoke with some relevant parties in cancer institutions and oncology centers in Yemen to understand the current challenges and develop future proposals capable of improving and developing healthcare services for cancer patients in Yemen.

Improving Healthcare Services

Dr. Hisham Sameet, director of the Oncology Center in Hadhramaut Governorate, stated that healthcare services provided to cancer patients in Yemen can be improved by establishing specialized centers in all governorates. These centers should be equipped with qualified personnel in all oncology treatment specialties for both adults and children, including oncology surgery and diagnosis using advanced technologies such as nuclear scanning, in addition to providing the necessary radiotherapy.

He pointed out that these centers must be equipped with the latest medical equipment and technologies needed to diagnose and treat cancer efficiently. This will contribute to improving the quality of healthcare for cancer patients and increasing the chances of successful treatment. Alongside securing infrastructure and modern technologies, attention should also be directed towards training and qualifying medical and nursing personnel involved in cancer treatment to ensure the provision of optimal and specialized healthcare for patients.

Regarding new medical technologies and innovations that can be applied to improve the care of cancer patients in Yemen, Sameet explained that Yemen possesses the basic elements for treating tumors, but some modern devices are unavailable, such as modern nuclear scanning equipment, which is a vital technology for accurately diagnosing tumors.

He stressed the necessity of providing this device in healthcare facilities to ensure the diagnosis of cancer patients in its early stages and to determine the optimal treatment plan.

He also highlighted the need to use advanced genetic tests, which play a vital role in determining the appropriate treatment for each cancer case, and the importance of providing these tests to improve diagnostic accuracy and identify the most effective treatment.

Medicine Quality

To ensure drug quality and continued availability for patients, Dr. Sameet mentioned the necessity of applying strict standards to guarantee the quality of drugs available on the market. This requires periodic testing of products and verification of their compliance with approved health standards.

He added that the continued provision of good and effective medicine requires continuous financial support to fund the purchase of high-quality products, and sufficient funding must be allocated to ensure the availability of medicines for patients.

He emphasized the need for relevant government agencies to monitor and manage supply chains effectively to ensure the continuous availability of drugs without interruption and with guaranteed quality. Processes for purchasing drugs and granting licenses should be transparent and open to all, especially in the current situation, with mechanisms for oversight and accountability to ensure that corruption does not occur in this area.

Recommended Strategies

To improve and develop the healthcare infrastructure for cancer patients in Yemen, those in charge of relevant agencies have put forward some proposals that must be implemented to save the lives of the increasing number of cancer victims.

The director of Al-Amal Center for Cancer Tumors in Taiz, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Saeed, says: “There are many strategies that must be adopted by the state to improve and develop infrastructure. The most important of these is the adoption of comprehensive awareness programs that continue throughout the year, including raising awareness, identifying the most prominent symptoms and their importance, and methods of dealing with and preventing them, which leads to increasing recovery rates and reducing costs.”

He adds: “Also, providing model centers in densely populated areas equipped with diagnostic devices and qualified personnel to provide services quickly and accurately to patients at the lowest possible cost to both the patient and the state.”

He stressed the need to adopt annual pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and surgical sponsorships for patients so that cases can be dealt with as required, along with providing the necessary facilities for cases requiring travel and providing essential services in government centers to alleviate suffering and speed up recovery.

He continues: “Establishing early detection centers and creating mobile clinics to reach rural areas represents a vital step in raising health awareness and reducing mortality rates resulting from late diagnosis of cancerous diseases. The experience of the ‘Pink Clinic’ and the field team for detecting breast cancer has proven its effectiveness after three years of implementation in the rural areas of Taiz Governorate; it has contributed to improving early diagnosis opportunities and providing the necessary medical care for women in these areas.”

Sameet emphasizes the importance of supporting and encouraging scientific research in oncology, understanding the causes and risk factors associated with cancer, raising public awareness among decision-makers and citizens about the disease, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to reduce the economic and social burden resulting from cancer.

He also pointed to the necessity of keeping pace with global developments in cancer treatment, by benefiting from international expertise, whether through communicating with international experts to develop treatment plans, especially for treating intractable types of cancer, or sending health cadres for rehabilitation and training, or bringing in specialized doctors from abroad in fields lacking in the national cadre, such as bone marrow transplantation, in addition to working to enable local cadres to benefit from international experts, whether in rehabilitation or in developing comprehensive strategies, such as introducing health insurance systems to alleviate the burdens of cancer treatment.

Sameet suggested establishing a research center specializing in cancerous diseases and a fund to combat cancer; this fund will contribute effectively to developing health services related to cancer in Yemen, and the research center will enable the organization of conferences and workshops to identify urgent needs, develop treatment plans suitable for Yemeni conditions, and benefit from the expertise of specialists. The center will also help identify strengths in the treatment system to enhance them and identify weaknesses to be remedied and developed.

The director of the National Cancer Control Program at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jamal Abdul-Hameed, said: “The national strategy to combat cancer must include clear plans to train medical personnel and secure modern devices and equipment.”

He explained that the strategy aims to raise awareness about cancer and the importance of early detection; health education plays a vital role in empowering individuals and communities to take preventive steps that reduce the risk of cancer, and awareness campaigns encourage people to undergo periodic checkups and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

He also pointed to the importance of international and local cooperation in implementing this strategy; partnerships with international and local organizations enhance the exchange of knowledge and expertise and provide financial and technical support to oncology centers. The draft strategy is ready and has been submitted to the World Health Organization, which will set a date for a concluding workshop to approve the strategy in the near future.

Scientific Research

“Developing scientific research in our country is a vital step towards improving the overall health situation, particularly in the field of cancer control. By increasing the number of scientific research projects in oncology centers in 2024, in collaboration with Yemeni universities, improving the performance of cancer center records, and strengthening research and periodic reports, we can say that we have made tangible progress in understanding the disease and developing effective strategies to confront it,” according to Dr. Jamal Abdul-Hameed.

He continues: “This progress has significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for patients and strengthening joint cooperation with the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency to develop treatment protocols according to international standards. We feel optimistic about a better future; efforts in the field of scientific research to combat cancer and improve the public health situation in our country are being strengthened.”

The Cancer Patient Support Fund

As part of efforts to improve healthcare for cancer patients in Yemen, Dr. Jamal Abdul-Hameed says: “Combating cancer is one of the biggest health challenges facing societies worldwide, especially in developing countries like ours. With increasing cancer rates, it’s crucial to take effective steps to ensure patients receive the necessary healthcare. In this context, establishing a Cancer Patient Support Fund is a vital step towards improving the level of treatment and support provided to patients and reflects the government’s and society’s commitment to tackling this challenge.”

He also explained that the Cancer Patient Support Fund aims to provide ongoing and continuous treatment, alleviating the financial burden on patients and their families. Treatment costs are typically high, making many patients unable to afford them. The fund can provide support to cover treatment costs, including medication, examinations, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

He stressed that the fund’s presence in all oncology centers will enable patients to receive timely treatment, increasing their chances of recovery. It will also help reduce the need for treatment abroad, saving time and effort and reducing the psychological stress on patients and their families.

He noted that the fund’s role is not limited to supporting the purchase of chemotherapy and biological treatment but also extends to supporting programs to develop oncology centers in the country. Many of these centers suffer from a lack of resources and equipment, negatively affecting the quality of care provided. By providing the necessary funding, the infrastructure of oncology centers can be improved, equipped with modern devices, and medical staff trained.

He concluded by saying: “The establishment of a Cancer Patient Support Fund in all centers represents an important step towards improving healthcare in our country by providing ongoing treatment and supporting oncology center development programs. We can make tangible progress in confronting this malignant disease. Investing in patients’ health is an investment in the future of the entire community; the health of individuals reflects the health of the nation. We must all work together to strengthen this fund and ensure its sustainability to achieve the desired goals in combating cancer.”

The Challenges

Developing healthcare services for cancer patients in Yemen faces major challenges requiring effective solutions to improve healthcare. Among these challenges, Sameet says: “The healthcare system suffers from insufficient funding to meet the growing needs of patients. This problem can be overcome by increasing government investment in the healthcare sector and improving financial resource management.”

He emphasized that the lack of essential medicines and services for cancer treatment is an ongoing challenge for patients in some governorates. He explained that the solution lies in strengthening supply chains and ensuring the continuous availability of essential medicines and medical supplies.

He pointed out that medical staff in health centers face complex challenges, including a lack of adequate salaries and insufficient training and qualification. Improving working conditions and providing opportunities for professional development for medical staff are necessary to enhance the quality of health services.

Dr. Jamal Abdul-Hameed agreed, noting that the lack of financial and human resources is a major challenge facing oncology centers. Many centers suffer from a shortage of trained medical personnel, negatively affecting the quality of care provided to patients. The lack of modern equipment and technology hinders these centers’ ability to provide necessary treatments. A concerted effort is required to meet the needs of these centers and promote the health services level provided to patients.