RIYADH, 8 November 2006 — Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie said here yesterday that the number of persons suffering from cancer in the Kingdom was 7,000, stating that there were no indications that the number of cases is on the rise.
“This figure is considered acceptable according to international standards,” he said, adding that there was no reason to be alarmed. The minister made these statements during the inauguration of an international symposium on cancer entitled “Working Toward Cure” at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) yesterday. The symposium continues till tomorrow.
He said governments around the world were allocating large budgets to fight the disease, which has been the cause of sufferings for many globally.
Al-Manie revealed his ministry’s intention to cooperate with KFSHRC to establish a program in which all citizens could go for check ups for early cancer detection. “This program, God willing, will deter the spread of cancer in the Kingdom,” he said, calling on citizens to cooperate with health officials to make the program a success.
The minister warned people from dealing with tricksters who take advantage of sick people’s desperation by claiming to have a cure for cancer. These people, he said, only stripped people’s pockets.
“The ministry has coordinated with concerned government authorities to deter and catch these tricksters,” he said, adding that it was, however, a public duty for citizens and residents not to cooperate with them or get trapped by their false promises.
Al-Manie said the government of Saudi Arabia has taken an oath to provide free medical treatment to all its citizens, especially in providing treatment and the latest medicament to patients suffering from diseases such as cancer. “There are ten special cancer treatment centers in the Kingdom,” he mentioned.
The minister said that conducting such medical symposiums was an excellent opportunity for physicians, scientists, experts, and persons in the medical field to exchange their expertise and their latest research in the fight against cancer.
On his part, the Chief Executive Director of KFSHRC Dr. Qasim Al-Qasabi, said that even though cancer cases in the Kingdom were not high, they had a big impact on people’s lives since they affect people economically, socially, and psychologically.
“Fighting this disease requires a lot of human resource and money. This in addition to the high costs for treatment,” he added.
He said that organizing such an event was part of the hospital’s efforts to gain from other local and international expertise in the field of prevention and cure of cancer.
Qasabi welcomed the participants who came from different parts of the Kingdom as well as international participants in his address. He said the symposium had designated a special day for public attendance where people could listen to the comments made by experts in the field of cancer and learn about the disease.
“Many people believe the disease is fatal and is not curable and that is wrong,” he commented.
Thirteen international speakers, in addition to 12 national speakers, in the field of oncology have been invited to attend the symposium to share recent updates in research and treatment methods in cancer diseases.
“The symposium’s main focus will be cancer and all aspects of its care starting from diagnosis and management to end of life issues,” said Dr. Adher Alsayed, chairman of the organizing committee.