Plan aims to improve treatment

By PATRICIA KEAMO
TWO oncologist at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) have come up with proposals for the Government that can help improve cancer service and treatment in the country.
Dr Priya Baskaran and Dr Karthik Periasamy have been working on proposals to develop an electronic national cancer registry, a screening system for cancer detection and a curriculum to train oncologists for the country.
The country, currently, does not have a registry system for cancer patients which makes it difficult to keep track of statistics and data of people diagnosed with all forms of cancer.
Priya said the electronic registry would bear the full data of cancer patients which would enable doctors to know the trends of the disease and the best options for treatment and management.
“Based on a clear picture, we will be able to devise clear strategies and once we devise strategies, we will know what’s happening and how it’s happening, how we can prevent it (cancer) and what changes we can make,” she said.
She said between 12,000 to 15,000 cancer patients were treated annually and of that number, 3,000 were for breast cancer.
Priya said the National Capital District had to lead by example by introducing mobile screening units that people could do screening for all forms of cancer.
She said there was a need for early cancer screening in order to prevent or treat the cancer and save the patient.
“We need to invest in cancer screening, when you detect cancer at an early stage, you’re able to cure the person,” she said.
“Cancer screening is the only way to screen the person, if we do not screen the person, then they come to us at a fatal stage.”
The third component of the proposal included a curriculum for oncology that would enable Papua New Guineans to study and specialise in oncology so that the country can have its own oncologist to treat patients.