Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for FinanceGovernment has tabled a proposal to borrow UGX165.433Bn from UniCredit Bank Austria and Islamic Development Bank for the construction of Arua and Mbale Oncology centres.Government wants to borrow up to EUR 9.4 million (UGX38,451,471,000) from Unicredit Bank Austria for the construction and equipping of Mbale Oncology Center and up to US36.50 million (UGX126,981,650,000) from Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the construction of Arua Oncology Center and radiotherapy equipment for the Mbale Oncology Center, thus totaling to (UGX165,433,121,000).While appearing before Parliament’s Committee on National Economy to defend the loan requests recently, Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance, cited over 35.968 new cancer cases and 24,629 cancer-related deaths reported annually in Uganda as the main reasons why the country needs the two loans to bring cancer services closer to the people.“The burden of cancer in Uganda is increasing yet access to quality oncology services remains inadequate. With over 35.968 new cancer cases and 24,629 cancer-related deaths reported annually, the need for comprehensive and accessible cancer care is urgent. However, Limited availability of oncology services outside Kampala creates significant challenges, including geographical barriers, high patient congestion at UCI (Mulago Cancer Center), long waiting times, and financial burdens on patients who must travel long distances to access treatment. As a result, many cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages due to limited early detection services, leading to poor treatment outcomes and higher mortality rates,” Musasizi said.He added that establishing regional oncology centres is essential to decentralizing cancer care and ensuring equitable access to timely diagnosis and treatment and as such, these centres will facilitate early screening, diagnosis and treatment, improving treatment outcomes and survival rates“Decentralization will also reduce patient congestion at UCl, enabling UCI to focus on specialized care, research, and training, as outlined in its mandate. Furthermore, regional centres will significantly ease the financial burden on patients and their families by reducing costs associated with travel, accommodation, and lost income due to prolonged hospital stays. By securing these loans, UCI can enhance its capabilities, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for the 45.9 million people in Uganda and contributing to the overall improvement of the nation’s healthcare system,” he said, urging the Committee to approve the loan.Globally, he said, there is a limited number of funders willing to invest in Cancer as a disease area, primarily because of the resource-intensive nature of the field, and so, it is essential to seize and maximize any available funding opportunities targeting cancer and utilize the funds in an incremental way to effectively address the existing gaps in cancer care and research.“There are few funders willing to invest in Cancer as a disease area because of its resource intensive nature. Although 60% cancers are attributed to HIV, there’s no funding program under HIV targeting cancer. Therefore, any funding opportunity targeting cancer should be embraced and used in an incremental way,” said Musasizi, adding: “Cancer poses a significant public health challenge in Uganda, influenced by increasing life expectancy, lifestyle changes and limited access to early detection and treatment. The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCl), the main provider of cancer care is overwhelmed by using case numbers. Centralized services in Kampala create barriers for patients in remote areas, including geographical distance, high costs and long waiting times resulting in late-stage diagnoses and poor outcomes. Establishing regional cancer centres is essential for decentralizing services and improving access to timely care.”According to Nixon Niyonzima, Head Research and Training at UCI, the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) currently serves over 54,000 patients, consisting of both inpatients and outpatients, realizing a significant increase from approximately 15,000 in FY 2009/2010.He attributed the rise mainly to factors such as population growth, the HIV epidemic and awareness campaigns led by the UCL Statistics indicate that about l5% of the patients are from the central region, 22% from Eastern region, 20.4% from the North, 18.5% from the West, 18.5 from the Northwest, and 5.6% from other areas. This data implies that the northern and the Eastern regions contribute the most to the patient numbers at the UCL.The post Cancer: Gov’t Makes Case For UGX165.4bn Loan To Set Up Two Regional Oncology Centres appeared first on Business Focus.