His Majesty King Abdullah II visited Samih Darwazah Oncology Centre at Al Bashir Hospital on Wednesday, and directed the government to expand it in order to increase its capacity and enhance the services provided to cancer patients.

His Majesty toured the centre, which was developed in partnership with the Himmetna Health Association, the Ministry of Health represented by Al Bashir Hospital, the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), and partners from the private sector.

The King was briefed by Minister of Health Ibrahim Bdour on the ministry’s strategy to improve the quality of medical services in the Kingdom by developing the sector’s infrastructure, increasing hospital capacity, and building the capacities of medical personnel.

Bdour said that in implementation of the Royal directives, the ministry will work on expanding the Samih Darwazah Oncology Centre’s capacity so the total number of patients treated annually increases to around 1,500, an increase of 30-35 per cent compared to the current number of approximately 1,150 patients.

The King was briefed on the centre’s services by KHCC Assistant Director-General for Patient Affairs Munther Al Hawarat, who is seconded from KHCC to run the centre at Al Bashir Hospital.

Hawarat explained that the centre follows KHCC treatment protocols and undergoes periodic quality reviews, which have contributed to raising the level of services, adding that medical and nursing staff and support services are also supervised by the KHCC.

He said that since the start of the centre’s operations in 2021, outpatient clinics have handled approximately 46,000 visits, with 2,752 cases being admitted for treatment, which exceeds the centre’s capacity.

His Majesty was also briefed by Al Bashir Hospital Director Ali Al Abdallat on the treatment services provided by the leukaemia department, which is equipped according to the latest international medical standards.

Abdallat said the department’s treatment plans are implemented within an integrated healthcare system, under the supervision of specialised medical staff, in partnership with the KHCC.

For her part, Himmetna Health Association President and Founder Fadia Samara spoke about the association’s efforts to establish the centre and mobilise support from national institutions, the private sector, and individuals donors, as well as its oversight of the centre’s implementation across two phases.

She said the centre was developed at a cost of JD2 million, and has 24 beds, including a 15-bed chemotherapy unit, three outpatient clinics, and administrative facilities.

Samara noted the importance of the psychological and social support unit at the centre in providing the necessary counselling and support to patients during treatment.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, and Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh accompanied the King on the visit.