BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE number of new patients being diagnosed with cancer in St. Kitts and Nevis is trending downwards, according to Minister of Health Eugene Hamilton.
According to statistics provided by the Minister, there are approximately 47 new cases per year, which is relatively low.
Included in that number are cervical, breast, prostate and gastrointestinal tract cancers, while the statistics showed no one with skin cancer.
“In the period 2010-2014, the Federation recorded 371 new cases of cancer - that is outside of skin cancer - at an average of 74 per year. This, of course, corresponds to about 15 persons for every 10,000 persons in the population.”
Addressing media representatives at a recent press conference, Minister Hamilton disclosed that the global average is 18, adding that cervical, breast, prostate and gastrointestinal tract account for 75 percent of cancers locally.
“The number of new cases is very much trending downwards based on 2010-2014. The cost of cancer treatment can bankrupt a person. It can bankrupt a family and of course case devastation to a country’s health budget.”
He also explained that data provided to the Health Ministry has shown that over the last two years families with cancer patients have incurred cost exceeding $1M.
He declared that consideration must be given by the private sector to partner with the non-governmental organization in order to fill the financial gap that the government could not, since it is difficult for the government to fully fund every individual patient.
“The announcement today that there is an alliance being formed between A Time 4 US foundation and First Caribbean on this walk signifies the importance of the private sector as a partner in delivering health care in the Federation."
Minister Hamilton was referring to the partnership between financial institution CIBC Firstcaribbean and NGO A Time 4 US.
In support of Minister Hamilton’s statement, Junior Minister of Health Hon. Wendy Phipps pointed out that the maximum monetary assistance given by the government to patients travelling overseas for treatment is approximately US$5,000, which is what they could afford.
Additionally, in the 2016 Budget, the government increased allocations by $100,000 to assist those in need of treatment abroad, since the sum in the previous budget had quickly evaporated.
“In the 2014 Budget for 2015, that area would have been in the area of some $350,000 which would have been exhausted by September 2015. And as a result, the 2016 Budget would have increased by another $100,000, so it is now $450,000. So if you bear that in mind that St. Kitts and Nevis has a relatively small population with a small tax base and a small private sector...for us to still remain paying out that average of US$5,000 is going to be very difficult.”
Minister Phipps informed that the government would continue to educate the populace on the need for better hygiene and eating habits in order to succeed in the fight against cancer.
“Inasmuch as we are trying to promote the establishment of an Oncology Center focusing primarily on care and chemotherapy treatment, at the same time the Ministry of Health wants to get the message across to the public that it is one thing to have a reactionary approach to health care, such as cancer care or chemotherapy or radiation, but it is a much better thing to have cancer prevention and to be proactive.”
