KUALA LUMPUR: The treatment facilities for cancer need to be expanded in public hospitals, said National Cancer Society (NCSM) Malaysia president Dr Saunthari Somasundaram.

She said Malaysia has several private hospitals providing the treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy for various types of cancer and it is all based within the Klang Valley.

"Our medical facilities for cancers need to be expanded outside of Klang Valley, Penang and the major city areas to make treatment more accessible."

Speaking to reporters after attending the "Thumbs Up for Cancer Survivorship" workshop, held by NCSM in conjunction with the National Cancer Survivors Day at Prince Court Medical Centre today, Dr Saunthari said there is a need for more public hospitals to provide the treatment as not all can afford to go to private hospitals.

She said there is no government facilities offering radiotherapy in the northern states corridor while only one public hospital in Johor offered such treatment in the southern corridor.

"On the east coast, radiotherapy treatment is available in Kelantan but there is no facility in Pahang and Terengganu. We also face a shortage of oncologists. Currently we only have 90 oncologists in the country," she said.

Source: The Sun Daily