KUALA LUMPUR – Human resource constraints, particularly the shortage of specialist doctors, alongside the high costs of constructing treatment facilities, are the primary factors hindering the expansion of cancer care services to rural areas.
National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) managing director Dr M. Muralitharan said the construction and operational costs of a fully equipped cancer centre typically range between RM80 million and RM200 million.
Beyond the financial burden, he stated that such facilities require a comprehensive support ecosystem, comprising trained nurses, medical officers, radiologists, X-ray technologists and nuclear medicine personnel.
“If the ecosystem is incomplete, the machinery and facilities cannot be utilised or will not function effectively.
“It is not sufficient to assign a single nurse or officer; the entire range of expertise must operate in tandem,” he told Sinar.
Dr Muralitharan described that Malaysia’s cancer treatment model is more effective when implemented via a centralised system rather than by establishing numerous small treatment centres in rural regions.
This approach, he argued, enhances clinical expertise as specialists manage high volumes of cancer cases daily.
“It is not a lack of government will, but a matter of practical difficulty. If we cannot bring the hospital to the patient, we must be more efficient in transporting the patient to the hospital to receive the necessary care,” he said.
In line with this strategy, NCSM is working to reduce the logistical burden and travel costs for patients. Key initiatives include the provision of transit homes near major tertiary hospitals, such as Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Penang Hospital and Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR).
“NCSM currently provides approximately 100 beds across the Klang Valley and is working to expand facilities in Putrajaya and Petaling Jaya. However, the capacity remains insufficient as these hospitals serve patients from across the nation,” Dr Muralitharan added.
This challenge comes as Malaysia’s cancer burden continues to escalate, reflecting a global trend where cancer accounts for nearly one in six deaths.
In Malaysia, data from the National Cancer Institute shows a consistent increase in patients since 2012, with a sharp rise observed from 2017 onwards, when new cases exceeded 30,000 annually.
According to the Health Ministry, nearly 250,000 cancer cases were recorded between 2017 and 2023.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the five most prevalent cancers are breast, colorectal, lung, lymphoma and liver. The mortality rate increased to 14 per cent in 2023, up from 13 per cent the previous year.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the country after ischaemic heart disease, pneumonia and stroke, with its share of deaths rising from 10.5 per cent in 2021 to 12.6 per cent in 2022.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia reported that cancer’s share of total deaths rose from 10.5 per cent in 2021 to 12.6 per cent in 2022. With the World Health Organisation estimating that 30 to 50 per cent of cancers are preventable, early screening and equitable access to quality treatment remain urgent national priorities.