The govt couldn’t provide the access to everyone due to high costs and expenses

by S BIRRUNTHA / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE Health Ministry (MoH) has urged more parties to come forward to ease and facilitate access to “precision medicine” for cancer patients, especially those who cannot afford it.

According to the American Cancer Society, precision medicine is a way healthcare providers can offer and plan specific care for their patients based on the person’s genes or the genes in their cancer cells.

MoH Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said the government admits that it could not provide the access to all citizens as it involves high costs and expenses.

He added that battling cancer is extremely challenging because of its impact on the patient’s physical, financial and mental wellbeing.

“It is not possible for the government to provide this service for everyone as it involves high costs.

“That is why we need cooperation and private initiatives from various parties like this to ensure that as many people in this country as possible have access to precision medicine,” he noted.

Khairy said this during a partnership ceremony between Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd, AstraZeneca Sdn Bhd and Pantai Premier Pathology Sdn Bhd on precision medicine in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

Commenting further, the minister said not all cancer patients were able to undergo diagnosis and access to genome testing which involved high costs.

He added that not everyone can afford precision medicine as it only involves a small group of people.

He emphasised that partnership initiative between various parties will enable those who have an insurance plan to have easy access to precision medicine.

“Therefore, I hope more insurance companies can implement this kind of collaboration and ensure cancer patients get better treatment,” he said.

A tripartite collaboration between Prudential, AstraZeneca and Pantai Premier was launched yesterday to pave the way for cancer patients to access genomic testing for a more accurate diagnosis of their cancer based on its genetic profile.

Through this collaboration, cancer patients will financially have peace of mind and can look forward to improved treatment outcomes.

The tripartite partnership will entail Pantai Premier providing precision medicine diagnosis through their laboratory, Prudential improving affordability to the diagnosis through medical insurance and takaful plans, and AstraZeneca supporting by way of education on early diagnosis.

The partners hope that this initiative will pave the way for other like-minded industry partners such as hospitals and insurance, as well as takaful players to join the coalition to help broaden patients’ access to quality, affordable cancer care in the country.