Planning of the $25 million facility has commenced, with services set to open for cancer patients in late 2020.
Mount Alvernia Hospital has appointed Icon SOC, a well-established cancer care provider in Singapore, to build and manage a new state-of-the-art integrated cancer centre on site. The centre will provide a holistic approach to cancer care by bringing together medical oncology, haematology and radiation oncology for Singaporeans in need of best-practice treatment.
Icon and Mount Alvernia Hospital’s inves tment in the new integrated cancer centre is in response to one of Singapore’s fastest growing healthcare demands. Cancer is currently the leading cause of death in Singapore, accounting for 29.1 per cent of deaths in 2017. About 37 people in Singapore are diagnosed with cancer every day.
With advancements in cancer treatments, survival rates for patients with cancer has improved over the years. The early detection and screening for some of the common cancers have led to more timey treatment for many patients.
Taking a holistic approach to cancer care, the upcoming facility will offer a 10-chair day oncology hospital delivering chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy, a radiation therapy centre with the latest Linear Accelerator and capacity for a second machine, onsite PET-CT, pathology and pharmacy services. The centre has the capacity to treat up to 1000 patients a year, including the 20 per cent of patients who require concurrent chemotherapy and radiation.
“As the risk of cancer increases with age, the number of people being diagnosed and living with cancer is likely to continue to rise on the back of an ageing population. We are very privileged to appoint and partner with Icon to support our patients and journey with them during their treatment, together providing holistic care for cancer patients in Singapore. This partnership reflects our commitment to provide patients with the full continuum of care at the time they most need it,” said Dr James Lam Kian Ming, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Alvernia Hospital.
The new centre will be equipped with the latest Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, state-of-the-art technology which provides advanced precision and speed in radiation therapy.
“As an early adopter of the latest treatments in cancer care, including the first in Australasia to introduce HyperArc to treat advanced brain metastases, this centre will mean patients have access to best-practice cancer care earlier. A combination of world class expertise and state-of-the-art technology is central to our commitment and investment in Singapore and Asia,” said Mark Middleton, Group Chief Executive Officer, Icon Group.
Icon’s global partnership with Varian will see this centre become the regional training hub for radiation oncologists, medical physicists and radiation therapists in the Asia-Pacific region. “Varian is delighted to be selected by both Icon and Mount Alvernia Hospital to bring the best possible radiation oncology technology and techniques to Singaporeans, while delivering vital training for specialist clinicians. Building workforce capability and capacity to deliver world-class radiation therapy is something cancer patients across the APAC region deserve,” said Mr Kenneth Tan, President, Oncology Systems Asia Pacific, Varian Medical Systems.
Icon has a strong history of investing in best-practice cancer care in the region, including recent announcements to bring care to residents in Chongqing and Qingdao across China. [APBN]