INDIA – The Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) here has signed a Partnership Agreement of Cancer Patient Navigation Programme to improve cancer care in Indonesia, marking the World Health Day.

The MoU was signed with Dharmais National Cancer Hospital and PT Roche Indonesia in a virtual ceremony.

According to a statement issued by the Indonesian state-run Press Information Bureau, patients will be offered individualized assistance, as well as assistance to their family members and caregivers, to help them overcome healthcare system barriers.

Such a Cancer Patient Navigator (CPN) does not currently exist in Indonesia, so the MoU signed on Thursday is significant in this context.

According to TMC Director Rajendra Badwe, despite easy access to and high-quality cancer care, there is a problem with treatment adherence.

Surveys conducted by the TMC and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) have revealed that meeting the economic, emotional, psychological, social and cultural needs of a patient is important for positive results in the treatment.

Manoj Kumar Bharti, India’s Ambassador to Indonesia, described the MoU as “very timely” given that Indonesia currently holds the G20 Presidency and “Health” is one of the three main pillars of its focus area.”

The Indian Ambassador to ASEAN, Jayant Khobragade, lauded the efforts of TMC and other cancer care centers, saying that most cancer patients are actual contributors to the nation’s growth and thus it is a service to the nation, “so extending their life span is a huge service to humanity.”

TMC offers KEVAT, a one-year advanced post-graduate diploma program in navigation in oncology in collaboration with TISS, which provides education in psycho-social aspects of care while TMC provides clinical training.

The state-run hospital in India also offers a one-year post-graduate diploma program that includes training in both clinical and psycho-social aspects of cancer care.

The intensive training program for Indonesia includes a hybrid learning model that combines online tutorials, practical training at TMC, followed by practical training in participating hospitals under the supervision of experts, and students will be awarded a joint diploma certificate.

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