The Ghana Medical Association is partnering Roche – a cancer research pharmaceutical – firm on a 5-year nationwide cancer care advocacy across the country.

The GMA says the number of cancer cases not being reported or reported too late is alarmingly on the rise, thereby reducing survival chances of patients.

About 50-70 percent of the cases that report to health facilities go with advanced stage disease and the outcome is often poor.

Deputy General Secretary of the GMA is hopeful that many sufferers will have better chance of survival if their condition is detected early.

To improve upon the outcome of cancers in Ghana, all health care practitioners including those who don't treat cancers (Non-oncologists) are being trained across the country on early detection and prompt referral of suspicious cases for specialists’ management.

The trainings have already begun in Accra and will be carried out in various parts of the country, until as many health care professionals as much as possible are covered. 

The initial training is focusing on two commonest women cancers – Breast and Cervical Cancers.

Roche is a pharmaceutical company that has over 50 years’ experience in cancer research and has developed innovative therapies that have revolutionized the management of cancers.

Dr. Odette Kwarteng, Country Medical Manager for Roche Pharmaceutical says the company’s partnership with the GMA will go beyond development of cancer drugs.

They will be involved in creating disease area awareness to empower the patient, educating health care providers to promote early detection and appropriate management, and providing diagnostic support.

This collaboration with GMA will also address the problem of late reporting of cancer cases and also make it possible for the creation of a national cancer registry.