The Ministry of Health Bahrain and SAH Global have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to make cutting-edge proton therapy cancer treatment available to Bahraini cancer patients.

SAH Global is currently in the process of constructing a network of proton therapy centers in the Middle East, said a statement.

The Ministry will refer patients to SAH Care, the international medical services subsidiary of SAH Global, which currently coordinates and arranges treatment in its global network of proton therapy centers, the statement said.

Dr Aysha Buaneq, undersecretary to the Ministry of Health, who signed the MoU, said: “Proton therapy is one of the most advanced forms of cancer treatments available today. It provides a higher quality of life and has fewer side effects than conventional radiation therapy and is highly effective in treating tumors, especially in the prostate, breast, lung, spinal cord, brain, eye, head and neck and at the base of the skull.”

“The Ministry will select cancer patients eligible for proton therapy and take the necessary steps to acquaint oncologists in the kingdom with this advanced form of cancer treatment, including holding training workshops for doctors,” she said.

SAH Global is the first company in the Middle East to be awarded a license to own and operate a proton therapy center in Qatar and is in discussions with governments and potential local partners to build a network of therapy centres in the Mena region and beyond. 

The centres will focus on treatment, research, development and training. SAH Care arranges and coordinates end-to-end treatment at preferential rates through its network of partner proton therapy centres around the world.

SAH is able to deliver significant cost savings and reduce waiting times (which can otherwise exceed three months in many cases) to only a few weeks.

It is expected that its quality of service will be further enhanced upon completion of SAH Global’s proton therapy centre in Doha, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service