Istanbul: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has recently inaugurated a residential center for Syrian patients with cancer referred for treatment in Turkiye, as part of a larger project implemented by the Independent Doctors Association (IDA).
According to Qatar News Agency, the project is aimed at ensuring a safe and supportive environment for the patients and their families coming from Syria with no place for residence during their stay for treatment in Turkiye. It would help alleviate their health and living burdens, improve their quality of life, and enhance their prospects of recovery.
The center is expected to host around 1,000 referred patients from Syria over the course of 11 months. It will provide appropriate accommodation up to medically recommended health standards, specialized nutrition programs, transportation to and from Turkish hospitals, psychosocial support, interpreting, and physiotherapy.
The project also covers some additional medical expenses not covered by the Turkish health system and provides one-time e-coupons to purchase food and nonfood items from contracted stores.
Operations at the center will be run by a full team of case managers, interpreters, nutritionists, psychological support specialists, and administrative/technical staff to ensure the quality of services provided for inmates.
Other components of the project include the rehabilitation and equipment of some facilities at Al-Amal Association Center, to increase its capacity and improve the care environment.
The initiative comes as part of QRCS's priority interventions in Syria, where cancer patients face acute challenges such as shortages of medicines and treatment centers, particularly in the northwest. The devastation of healthcare infrastructure caused by the prolonged conflict and earthquakes has further led to late diagnoses and higher mortality rates.
In the same vein, QRCS is raising funds to provide chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs for 400 displaced and poor Syrian patients with cancer at the Oncology Center in Syria.