Govt launches construction of ultra modern cancer unit

Feb 26, 2014

Cancer patients in the country may soon breathe a sigh of relief after the Government in partnership with the private sector embarked on construction of an ultra modern cancer facility.

By Steven Candia                             

Cancer patients in the country may soon breathe a sigh of relief after the Government in partnership with the private sector embarked on construction of an ultra modern cancer facility.

The facility will offer world class service sharply cutting on costs and the need to travel abroad for specialized treatment.

The ground breaking ceremony for the construction was presided over by police Chief Gen. Kale Kayihura in Kololo, a city suburb.

The project is being executed on police prime land which once housed the now defunct Police Special branch and up to recently the Counter Terrorism unit.

The project in which government through the police is partnering with Clarius International Uganda will be executed in two phases, with the facility expected to begin offering service by January next year.

The second phase will follow two years later.

In the project, the police will contribute land, construction equipment and manpower while Clarius will bring on board the equipment, medical expertize and manage the facility that will boast more than 2300 square meters and a hundred-bed capacity. 

The facility, which will have two wings; VIP and ordinary will be run on purely commercial terms and will offer services in cancer treatment such as surgery, Chemotherapy and radio therapy, reinforced with experts, services which have always compelled Ugandan cancer patients to fly abroad.

“It is going to be the most cost effective and will eliminate the issue of patients having to travel abroad in search of treatment,” Kayihura said at the function.

The size of the facility will relieve major hospitals like Mulago of the pressure of and cater for patients from other countries in the region and beyond.

“It will cater for all including personnel from the armed forces though the Police will benefit through a special arrangement in which it will be entitled to a share of the revenue generated,” Kayihura said.

It is from the share of revenue that an insurance policy will be taken to benefit the police.

Speaking at the same function, Dr. Shabeer Ahmed of Clarius International Ltd said the facility will start offering partial services under phase one of the project and full services upon completion.

“Under phase one we will diagnosis screening , surgery and chemotherapy though cancer and other surgeries will run side by side. Phase two will involve radio therapy,” Ahmed said.

 

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