Dr. Ashraf Ismail, Chairman of the General Authority for Health Accreditation and Control, highlighted the importance of providing an integrated health care system for better care of cancer patients as one of the trends modern basics in oncology treatment, indicating that the most important feature of such a system ensures the sharing of information among team members regarding patient care, developing a comprehensive treatment plan to meet to the biological, psychological and social needs of the patient, as well as consideration of the safety dimensions of oncology care, which include the provision of: specialized expertise, advanced technology, evidence-based and evidence-based clinical evidence, coordination and communication between members of the treatment team, infection prevention and control Patient support and assistance, medication management in order to att Achieving the highest levels of quality and safety of services offered to oncology patients.
This happened during her participation in the activities of the closed dialogue session of the 15th International Conference on Breast and Gynecological Tumors and Tumor Immunotherapy, which is organized by the Scientific Association of Breast and Female Tumors (BGICC) and Ain Shams University, under the auspices of the Ministries of Health and Higher Education, and in cooperation with the General Authority for Accreditation and Health Control, and the General Authority for Welfare and Health, and the supervision of Pr Dr Hisham El-Ghazaly, Director of the Ain Shams University Research Center and Secretary General of the Conference.
The head of the General Authority for Accreditation and Health Control explained that there are several considerations that must be available in oncology treatment centers confirmed by the national standards issued by GAHAR, whether in terms of regarding the treatment of oncology patients and the extended risks they are exposed to, the privacy of the complex services provided to them, or the privacy of oncology patients vis-à-vis their exposure.To increase the infection according to the stage of treatment or the extent of tumor spread, which requires raising the degree of infection control levels within the healthcare facility to the highest rate, indicating that one of the most important elements that must be available to tumor centers are specialized experts, and this does not only include oncologists and surgeons, but also includes i nurses and therapists. Radiologists and other health professionals who work alongside them, as well as the team of highly qualified and experienced professionals where chemotherapy and radiotherapy require good and continuous training to ensure the quality of health care, which is guaranteed by the national standards issued by GAHAR Workforce Management Standards.
He added that the complexity and the continuous and rapid development of technologies used in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, such as: radiotherapy devices, advanced surgical tools and high-tech imaging machines such as: resonance magnetic, gamma knife and other advanced technologies that need to be available in tumor treatment centers to achieve more precise and effective cancer treatment. On the contrary, it requires the medical establishment to fully comply with safety and security requirements. For example, but not limited to: periodic maintenance and calibration bases of the devices used, in addition to complying with strict requirements in radiation protection to ensure the safe and effective use of radiation in tumor centers, and to work to reduce the environmental risks that can be caused by radiation, chemicals and other causes of environmental pollution taking into account all these technical and health considerations in the design of the health facility to ensure the safety and security of the patient and the service provider.
Dr Ismail pointed out that the GAHAR standards emphasize the importance of having an approved policy available at the facility for reliable evidence-based clinical guidelines to ensure the most appropriate and effective treatment is received based on each patient’s condition, as well as protocols to prevent and control the spread of infections, such as hand hygiene, sterilization and disinfection, and isolation precautions, as well as emotional support programs, psychological and educational for patients and their families, adding that the standards also ensure that the facility has systems in place to ensure the safe and accurate administration of medications. Such as: correct drug selection, proper storage, correct description, preparation, dispensing, administration and monitoring.
With regard to cancer prevention and early detection of tumours, Dr Ashraf Ismail underlined the great role that primary care centers and units have to play in this context, which is what the comprehensive health insurance system and political leaders by putting more effort into testing. and awareness programs for the population, emphasizing the importance of the necessary training programs for family doctors at this level of care, by oncologists, as well as to educate the community on a healthy environment and avoiding carcinogens in food and behaviors, reducing the national cancer treatment burden.
He continued: “Currently, between 30% and 50% of cancer cases are preventable by avoiding risk factors for the disease and implementing strategies based on existing evidence to prevent it, in addition to reducing the risk of cancer. cancer burden through early detection of disease. and provide patients with an adequate amount of treatment. and care, noting that many types of cancer have an increased chance of being cured if diagnosed early and treated appropriately.
In a related context, Dr. Naima Al-Qaseer, Representative of the World Health Organization in Egypt, confirmed that the organization is working with Member States to strengthen national policies and programs to increase awareness and reduce exposure to cancer risk factors, and that although recent decades have seen rapid innovations in cancer diagnostics, but so far these services, drugs and technologies have been distributed and absorbed in an unfair and inefficient way Being diagnosed with cancer should not be a death sentence for not being able to access or pay for health care If people can access primary care and referral systems, cancer can be detected Early and effectively treated Based on specific, evidence-based investments in cancer interventions that will yield significant social and economic returns, while increasing productivity and equity Confirming that we can fight cancer and avert 7 million deaths worldwide by 2030 if low- and middle-income countries increase their investments in the prevention and treatment of diseases not diseases, including cancer, for less than $1 per person per year.
The representative of the World Health Organization in Egypt said that universal health coverage means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without suffering financial hardship. , as it includes the full range of necessary health care services, beginning with strengthening health and ending with prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
Dr. Naima Al-Qaseer appreciated the presence of institutional work to manage the file of universal health coverage in Egypt, because the concept is no longer based only on the disease, but rather on safe health care, in a broader perspective that includes the promotion of public health. health and disease prevention, which reinforces the right Every human being has access to health, which is guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution, as Egypt has made clear progress towards comprehensive health coverage in light of the interest of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in the health of Egyptian women, which is one of the most important presidential initiatives for public health under the umbrella of the 100 million health initiative. Early detection in all primary care units, sensitization of women, in addition to establishing a strong and rapid referral system to confirm diagnosis and treatment without waiting lists.
She added that this initiative is in line with the main thrusts set by the World Health Organization to improve early diagnosis policies and interventions to avoid complications and improve treatment outcomes, namely: raising awareness public to the various early symptoms of cancer and the importance of early detection and encouraging people to seek treatment as soon as one of these symptoms appears, in addition to investing in the field of strengthening health services by increasing the efficiency of the infrastructure and equipping it with the necessary capacities, including digitalization, which has become a priority for the Egyptian government, in addition to paying attention to the cadre of health workers in terms of ongoing training and build a strong referral system so they can make an accurate and timely diagnosis or refer for testing to confirm the diagnosis tick.
She added that the axes also include ensuring that people living with cancer can obtain safe, effective and timely treatment, including palliative care to relieve their pain, without incurring personal hardship or exorbitant financial costs, stressing that the World Health Organization in Egypt supports the five components of the health system in Egypt and which would accelerate the achievement of comprehensive health coverage, namely the definition of health policies and strategies, the improvement of efficiency of health service providers, the application of clinical governance and the activation of automation and digitization systems in health establishments.
For his part, Dr. Hisham El-Ghazaly expressed his pride in holding the International Conference on Breast and Gynecological Tumors for the fifteenth consecutive year in Egypt in cooperation with 12 international associations and the presence of more than 120 foreign experts from various specialties. . and more than 3000 doctors from different countries of the world, which contributes to the achievement of the objectives of this conference in terms of supporting and strengthening teaching and research capacities in the field of oncology treatment, by publishing new global guidelines from Egypt in cooperation with Egyptian and international partners. expertise, unifying efforts for early detection of tumors and increasing cure rates, adding that an African alliance will be established between African associations and organizations working in the field of oncology, representing about 15 African countries in the field of diagnosis and treatment of tumors and bioinformatics
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