More compassion needed for cancer patients, says JCS head

WESTERN BUREAU:

Executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), Roshane Reid-Koomson, is urging Jamaicans, particularly employers and healthcare workers, to show greater compassion towards cancer patients and address concerns about discrimination because of their illness.

She made the call in an interview with The Gleaner on Thursday, following the media launch of the 17th staging of the Kiwanis Club of Providence Montego Bay Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk/Wheelchair event at Grand-A-View Events Place in St James.

“Many of us are aware that Jamaica has poor customer service, and what I find in the health system and in the workplace is that we can be more compassionate. People who have cancer are employed; they work in private entities and government entities and, based on the feedback I am getting, there can be more compassion for them,” said Reid-Koomson.

Noting that some employees receive strong support after a cancer diagnosis, with employers advocating for paid leave on their behalf, Reid-Koomson said such treatment should be the norm rather than the exception.

“Let that not just be done because a person has a compassionate heart, but let it be the benchmark that, when persons are ill, this is the standard practice,’ she added. ‘There needs to be better emotional support for diagnosed patients of cancer in the workplace and in the corporate space”.

Her comments come days after the Montego Bay Cancer Support Group (MBCSG) alleged that staff at Cornwall Regional Hospital had discriminated against cancer patients and treated them unprofessionally because of their illness. The Western Regional Health Authority has strongly denied the allegations, which were published in the August 16 edition of The Sunday Gleaner.

Reid-Koomson said that, while she was aware of the claims, she had not received reports of specific cases in which healthcare workers had stigmatised cancer patients.

“I have not heard of any instances where healthcare workers are discriminating against individuals who are diagnosed with cancer, but I saw the article and I was very concerned,’ she said. “I hope the necessary authorities are taking steps to deal with the matter because I know, as a former worker in the government system, that there are protocols to address situations like these. While I remain concerned, I am more interested in the relevant authorities taking a look at the situation.”

According to 2024 data from the World Health Organisation’s Global Cancer Observatory, prostate cancer was Jamaica’s most common cancer that year, followed by breast and colorectal cancers.

Meanwhile, Reid-Koomson said the cost of cancer treatment remains a significant obstacle for patients.

“Persons who are diagnosed have to pay out of pocket for scans, and that is something that has been brought to the Ministry of Health’s attention, and they have indicated that they have been working on it. Some of these challenges have existed for years, and this is not something that we know about just today. I am hoping that we can take action in a quicker manner, because persons need treatment, and cancer is time-sensitive,” she said.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com