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The Ministry Of Health Is Establishing The First Cancer Center In North Sumatra

The Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Integrated Oncology Building at RSUP Adam Malik in Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday (January 16). This new building aims to enhance services for cancer, particularly in North Sumatra.

According to the President Director of RSUP Adam Malik, Zainal Safri, cancer services have the highest number of visits compared to other catastrophic diseases. From 2019 to 2024, the average number of cancer patients at RSUP Adam Malik is around 67,798 per year, followed by heart services with an average of 32,099 patients, stroke services with 1,493 patients, and urology services with 16,668 patients annually.

“Earlier, the Director mentioned that cancer services have the highest numbers at RSUP Adam Malik. This shows that cancer is a significant concern in healthcare,” emphasized Deputy Minister Prof. Dante.

He added that the Integrated Oncology Building is expected to not only serve as a center for cancer treatment but also to provide early detection services to address the disease before it reaches advanced stages.

“If patients are diagnosed early, their chances of recovery increase significantly. Therefore, I urge the Director to focus not only on treatment but also on widespread early detection efforts,” continued Deputy Minister Prof. Dante.

As the oncology center for North Sumatra, RSUP Adam Malik is also expected to establish a network to support cancer services in nearby hospitals, both in North Sumatra and other parts of Sumatra.

Through this support program, Deputy Minister Prof. Dante stated that various types of cancer that cannot be diagnosed or treated in regional hospitals will be referred to the Cancer Center at RSUP Adam Malik.

This is one of the first cancer centers in Sumatra. It will not only serve as a referral for hospitals in North Sumatra but also for other provincial hospitals, said Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dante.

The development of this oncology center has been praised by the Acting Governor of North Sumatra, Agus Fatoni. He stated that the Adam Malik General Hospital Oncology Center is expected to enhance cancer services.

"There are 210 hospitals in North Sumatra across various districts and cities. However, there are not many oncology services available. They are mainly found in Medan and Deli Serdang. Therefore, the local government supports the improvement of health services for the community, especially regarding cancer," said Acting Governor Agus Fatoni.

The construction of the Adam Malik General Hospital Oncology Center involves more than just building facilities and managing the building. It will also be equipped with various cancer examination tools, including a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan, which is currently quite limited.

Deputy Minister Prof. Dante added that the development of this Oncology Center must be matched with the enhancement of skills for doctors and medical staff working there, ensuring they can provide effective cancer treatment protocols that positively impact healing.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Adam Malik General Hospital Oncology Center is expected to take about 12 to 16 months from the groundbreaking. During this time, Deputy Minister Prof. Dante is committed to meeting the need for doctors who can provide cancer services.

"If there are not enough doctors, we will add more. Currently, there are several specialties focusing on cancer. For example, in Internal Medicine, there is hematology oncology. In Urology, there is prostate cancer, and so on. There is also cancer education in Surgical Oncology. If needed, we will increase the number," concluded Deputy Minister Prof. Dante.

Tag: Ministry Of Health North Sumatra