Cancer management and treatment available at public healthcare centres
In observation of World Cancer Awareness Day, the Department of Health outlines their services offered to cancer patients.
THE Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal is reminding cancer patients that services are available to them at public healthcare centres across the province. As February 4 is World Cancer Day, the department has emphasised that their efforts to fight cancer are still ongoing.
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The department outlined their services to cancer patients, from the different levels of public hospitals where cancer services are offered, to the types of services patients can obtain.
According to the department, cancer is treated at regional-level hospitals (higher care), ie, Regional Hospitals.
“Regional Hospitals are the second level of healthcare. These hospitals will normally receive patient referrals from district hospitals and provide specialist support. If the Regional Hospital cannot help, they will refer the patient to the Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
“Cancer management has many aspects which are also managed at the district level closer to communities and not just at our provincial and tertiary hospitals. In fact, every level of care has a role to play in cancer management,” stated the department.
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The key services that are found at Primary Healthcare Clinics, District Hospitals, Regional Hospitals and Tertiary Hospital are as follows:
- Prevention and early detection (at Primary Healthcare Clinics and District Hospitals): The focus here is on awareness campaigns and screening.
- Cancer management and treatment (at Regional and Tertiary Hospitals): The focus here is on diagnosis, surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiography.
The department reported that they are doing well in terms of radiography, screening and chemotherapy. “The province’s efforts in this regard are being bolstered through the National Cervical Cancer Prevention Policy. The aim of the policy is to ensure that the early symptoms of cancer are identified early,” they stated.
The public is urged to visit their closest healthcare services to find out more about services offered to cancer patients.
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