Radio therapy treatment for cancer is not available in Fiji and patients seeking such treatments are referred overseas for treatment.
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Atonio Lalabalavu highlighting this in Parliament on Thursday, noting a surge in cancer diagnosis in Fiji.
“It’s been increasing here in Fiji, and it spares not any particular section within the population,” Dr Lalabalavu said.
“It affects both adults and children, males and females, high and low socio-economics status.”
“And, cancer is also amongst the leading cause of NCDs, causing illness and mortality as well.
“In terms of the current management we have at the moment, it extends from prevention right up to the avoidance of risk factors, vaccination, early diagnosis treatment, medicine, surgical procedures and radiation therapy, rehabilitation, and that includes chronic pain management.”
He said most of these treatment modalities were available at our primary, secondary, and tertiary health care facilities around the country.
“However, radio therapy treatment is still not available in the country.
“For that, someone seeking radio therapy treatment, they’ll be referred, overseas.”
