Tufton pushing to improve cancer care

Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton is pushing ahead with his plan to improve the treatment of persons diagnosed with cancer in Jamaica.

Tufton visited the Christie NHS Foundation Trust’s Oncology Center in the United Kingdom on Monday, to discuss best practices as it relates to oncology treatment.

 The visit formed part of the minister’s overall plan to seek technical cooperation in several areas in public health including oncology.
 
“Partnerships in public health include the sharing of technical expertise and the Christie Oncology Center, as the leading experts in cancer care, research and education in Manchester, will help us to better commission these potentially lifesaving equipment,” said Tufton.

 “The visit was important to get a firsthand look at oncology treatment as we prepare to commission linear accelerators at our cancer treatment centers at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay and St Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston,” added Tufton.
 
Construction of both cancer treatment centers has started and it is expected that the center in Montego Bay will be opened in the fourth quarter of this financial year. 

Under the National Strategic and Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, the Government has set a target to reduce the number of premature deaths attributable to chronic diseases including cancer by 25 per cent by the year 2025.