By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, March 17: Sarawak Energy Berhad and Roche Pharmaceuticals Malaysia formalised a partnership today through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch the ‘Empower HER’ Innovative Funding Model programme.
This initiative adopts a stakeholder-inclusive co-funding approach to improve access to timely and innovative cancer care, ensuring that financially challenged breast cancer patients receive prompt treatment in public hospitals.
Sarawak’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, revealed in his speech that the State recorded over 3,000 new cancer cases last year for the first time, marking a significant rise from the previous average of 2,000 cases.
Additionally, more than 500 cases of breast cancer were reported for the first time.
Furthermore, 70 per cent of the cases are always diagnosed late.
“The Ministry of Health often faces funding shortages, making it difficult to provide the same medications to everyone, despite their intentions.
“Through this ‘Empower HER’ initiative, we will be able to provide treatment for 10 breast cancer patients,” he said during the MoU signing ceremony held at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) today.
By adopting a collaborative funding approach, the ‘Empower HER’ programme aims to ease financial burdens and ensure equitable, timely, and sustainable access to innovative neoadjuvant standard-of-care treatments for early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer patients.
An initial group of 10 patients from the lower M40 and B40 income groups will receive this fully-funded cancer treatment at public hospitals in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer Datu Sharbini Suhaili acknowledged the potential for the ‘Empower HER’ Innovative Funding Model programme to evolve into a scalable and sustainable ring-fenced fund, creating a long-term, meaningful impact for the people of Sarawak.
“This is particularly crucial given the significant increase in breast cancer cases between 2006 and 2015 – with an annual average rise of about 4.5 per cent – alongside the tendency for Malaysian women to be diagnosed at later stages, leading to more complex and costly treatment,” he said.
Also present were Sarawak Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Roche Pharmaceuticals Malaysia general manager Deepti Saraf, Sarawak Health Deputy Director Dr Rohani Mat Bah, and SGH Director Dr Ngian Hie Ung. – DayakDaily
