Telemedicine earns support of world oncologists

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Telemedicine during a disease outbreak has earned the support of international oncologists who have come up with recommendations they believe are also beneficial to other high-risk patients in the event of an epidemic or worst, a pandemic.

On behalf of the panel, Emirates Oncology Society president Dr. Humaid Al Shamsi said: “Healthcare authorities in cancer care should immediately start planning for cancer care delivery during a pandemic. Consideration of risk and benefit for active intervention in cancer population during an infectious pandemic must be individualized. Telemedicine may be used to minimize visits and to avoid risks of exposure.”

Three other proposals are the selective postponement of surgeries and chemotherapies, the conduct of more research on the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID19)-causing SARS-CoV2 in cancer populations, as well as the continuing information drive for the signs and symptoms as well as precautionary measures against it and other infectious diseases.

The Al Zahra Hospital (Dubai)/Al Tawam Hospital (Al Ain) consultant oncologist was remotely interviewed, having spearheaded a landmark international analysis on the impact of the pressing COVID19 on the management, treatment and care of people stricken with cancer.

Meanwhile the American Hospital Dubai has joined the list of healthcare providers in the UAE offering 24/7 telemedicine services for insurance-paid medical consultations and home delivery of prescribed drugs and therapies in these critical times.

“A Medical Approach to the Management of Cancer Patients during the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) Pandemic: An International Group Study was published in “The Oncologist” journal on April 3, 2020.

Al Shamsi worked on this alongside his colleagues from 22 private/government universities/healthcare institutions in the UAE, US, China, Italy, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan and Kuwait.

The University of Sharjah-Department of Medicine associate professor said he pursued the study for the urgency of guidance and recommendatons cancer doctors need.

“We lack studies too,” Al Shamsi added.

The joint review of records disclosed that factors which may fatally affect cancer patients due to COVID19 include frequent hospital visits and admissions, poor or low immune system, and advanced age.

* A study on 1,524 cancer patients revealed they had a two-fold increase risk of COVID19 infection when compared with the general population.