Daily Times

LAHORE: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) will provide expertise and cooperation to establish diagnostic and treatment facilities for patients diagnosed with cancer in the Maldives. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Thursday between the government of the Republic of Maldives and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health, Maldives and Dr. Muhammad Aasim Yusuf, Chief Medical Officer, SKMCH&RC signed off the deal.

The aim of this MOU is the desire of Maldives Government to avail SKMCH&CR’s expertise to train Maldivian health professionals including doctors, nurses and health care professionals. Ministry of Health, Maldives will nominate and send a physician with basic postgraduate medical qualification in Internal Medicine for at least one year of oncology training at SKMCH&RC. The pathological samples and radiological images will also be sent to SKMCH&RC through air shipments and electronically respectively, for reporting.

In addition, SKMCH&RC will provide training and expertise to Ministry of Health, Maldives to aid in establishing a national cancer registry at Health Protection Agency, Maldives. SKMCH&RC will also waive any tuition fees for a period of two years of the Maldivian students, as a special gesture.

Ministry of Health, Maldives and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust has appointed Dr. Sheeza Ali, Director General of Health Services and Dr. Muhammad Aasim Yusuf, CMO, SKMCH&RC as their representatives respectively, under this MOU to negotiate the terms and agreements for services and to act as focal points of communication.

This initiative would benefit both countries to make an already strong relationship more solid, especially in the health sector.