News: The Other Side of Treating Cancer Patients

A forum on “The Other Side of Treating Cancer Patients” was held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President of Saudi Red Crescent Authority, and Her Royal Highness Princess Haifaa Al Faisal, Chairperson, Board of Directors of Zahra Breast Cancer Institution. The forum was held on 14 Rabi II 1433 (March 7, 2012) at KFSH&RC’s Prince Salman Auditorium. It was organized by Zahra Breast Cancer Institution in collaboration with King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) and the Gulf Centre for Cancer. The forum hosted pioneer speakers in their field: Dr. Maysarah Taher, Mr. Turki Al Dhakeel, Dr. Jasim Al Mutawa, Dr. Saad Al Wahibi and Dr. Omar Al Mudhaifer.

Many cancer-related topics were touched on that had never been discussed before. Different aspects such as religious, social, psychological, governmental, professional, and human perspectives were highlighted. These significant topics attracted many people to attend, and important interactions took place between the speakers and the information-seeking audience. Members of the Ministry of Civil Services, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Health were invited to the meeting to offer information and explain to cancer patients their rights and benefits.

The event was attended by a huge number of governmental employees, executive directors, and employees from KFSH&RC and other hospitals. The institution organized an exhibition and had participants from many institutions dealing with cancer.

Her Royal Highness Princess Haifaa, Chairperson of Zahra Breast Cancer Society, presented a speech, expressing her deep gratitude and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah and the audience. She also commended the organizing committee on its hard effort to ensure the forum’s success. Her Royal Highness also emphasized the governmental institutions’ role in helping cancer patients and said that the forum highlighted the most important points in health care provision. She also added that this gathering would help in building many bridges of strategic plans and present programs to fill the gap between the health services sector and the governmental sector.

Mrs. Iman Bin Saeed, Training and Development Coordinator, Zahra Breast Cancer Institution, pointed out that the forum was focused on the non-medical side of treating cancer patients, which had never been discussed before any forum or conference and should have been highlighted a long time ago.