Her Excellency, Governor Christina Scott hosted a group from The Cancer Centre Eastern Caribbean (TECCEC) and other key stakeholders at Government House on Monday April 25.
Officials from The Cancer Centre Eastern Caribbean were in Anguilla on what was described by Mr. Henry Hazel, Chief Operating Officer of TCCEC, as a reintroduction and reengagement process. The process includes discussions about the establishment of a cancer clinic in Anguilla. To that end he said: “We are now in the process of establishing cancer care clinics across all of the OECS [Organization of Eastern Caribbean States] to operate in tandem with this main facility in Antigua and Barbuda. This is to be done in a hub and spoke fashion”. The facility opened on 26 June 2015 in The Medical Pavilion, Antigua.
TCCEC is described as the premiere oncology care establishment and the first of its kind in the region. It utilizes a Partnered Care Model developed by Dr. Conville S. Brown upon request by OECS Authorities. Dr. Brown is now the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TCCEC. He noted that Honourable Minister Evans McNeil Rogers of Anguilla had more experience with the project than him as Mr. Roger was involved with TCCEC from its inception and had attended the ground breaking ceremony and official opening in 2015. Dr. Brown stated that a centre of this nature would be too expensive to build and not feasible for one single island but rather a facility for the OECS. He elaborated: “The idea behind the hub and spoke is that the only thing that I recommended we do in Antigua is the delivery of radiation therapy where you need this expensive infrastructure. Then in each of the islands you develop a mini cancer centre that allows for local consultations…a clinic where follow up can be done…and a chemotherapy clinic so that chemotherapy can be delivered in your own country and hopefully at tremendous savings versus exporting patients”. He said that even with the best intentions of the government and the cancer centre with its partner care model, there will still be short falls in the resources available, financial and otherwise. He also highlighted the importance of coupling the private and government sectors with the industry sector. These sectors can provide added support such as an electronic medical record system like the one being provided by Elekta Infinity for TCCEC, meant to link all nine OECS territories together.
Medical and Managing Director, Dr. Tom S. McGowan, also delivered remarks in which he said often times quality care is neglected while the equipment is state of the art. “There’s still this belief system that patients need to travel [far away] to be able to get care, while paying a lot for it. However, there’re a few things that happen when you travel for care, they include care that’s more expensive as well as a medical community that becomes far too compartmentalized”.
Chief Medical Officer in Anguilla, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, provided some insight into the global epidemic of no communicable diseases. She noted that cancer has emerged as one of the leading causes of death, disability and illness. She zeroed in on Anguilla where she said that cancer is the second leading cause of death overall and has been for the past few years and has been in the top five for more than five years, roughly 20% of deaths. “With regards to prevalent form of cancer, prostate cancer is by far the most common form”. She stated that for the period 2010-2014, out a total of 33 cancer deaths, prostate cancer was responsible for 22 followed by stomach and colorectal cancer; and cervical cancer which was the most common form and leading cause of cancer deaths in women, according to data from the Anguilla Health Authority. She also made mention of a survey that is expected to be carried out in Anguilla later in the year that will aid in identifying prevalence of risk behaviours in cancers and other non communicable diseases.
“Medical treatment overseas is the Ministry’s largest expense. Looking specifically at cancer we’ve sent some 15 patients overseas over the last eight years”, said Honourable Minister of Health and Social Sevelopment, Mr. Evans McNeil Rogers. “We are grateful to the OECS cancer centre for offering the people of Anguilla a more affordable option for the treatment of cancer, not only is it more affordable, but it is conveniently located in Antigua”.
To date the cancer centre has already began treating patients throughout the OECS including patients from Anguilla. The team that is currently on Anguilla will be discussing the way forward as it relates to the establishment of a clinic in Anguilla at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
