Cancer Patients: “A Trust That Cannot Bear to Wait”!
Before anything else, we tip our hats to the Minister of Health and all the heroes at the Badriya Al-Ahmad Center. Their efforts are monumental, their contributions indescribable, and the medical and nursing staff work day and night to serve cancer patients. God bears witness that they do not fall short, and we pray for their well-being for every drop of sweat they shed.
As we write this, we do not intend to criticize or attack in any way. Our goal is to convey the picture clearly and honestly, to protect this cherished group. Words carry responsibility, and the objective is the patient’s welfare above all else.
The clear picture today: Chemotherapy patients have very weak immune systems, and overcrowding poses a danger to them. However, the current reality in the waiting room at Badriya Al-Ahmad Center has three factors affecting their comfort and safety:
1. “Appointment System”: Currently, appointments run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., meaning 50 patients are scheduled at the same time and wait for hours. A patient arrives for his appointment but remains in the waiting room, exposing him to infection, God forbid.
2. “Beds”: Sometimes, when a patient’s turn arrives, there are no empty beds, so he sits on a chair for hours until he receives his dose. A chemotherapy patient is already frail; sitting on a chair exacerbates his exhaustion.
3. “Drug Availability”: Chemotherapy is a matter of life and death. On more than one occasion, treatment has been delayed or canceled due to unavailability in the warehouses. A one-day delay can affect the entire treatment course and increase the psychological and physical risk to the patient.
The solution.. protecting the patient before treatment:
1. “Precise Appointments”: Instead of a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. window, each patient should have a specific minute-based slot. Upon arrival, he finds his bed ready and receives his dose within five minutes. This would reduce overcrowding by 80% and protect his immunity.
2. “Increasing the Number of Beds and Capacity”: Adding beds or implementing a shift system would ensure that no patient has to sit on a chair. The dignity of the patient is the dignity of the nation.
3. “Strategic Chemotherapy Reserve”: Cancer medication must never run out, not even for a day. Adequate reserves and early procurement are essential to guarantee that no session is postponed. Delaying a dose means delaying recovery.
In short: Your Excellency the Minister, patients at the Badriya Al-Ahmad Center are not just numbers in a file; these are our mothers and fathers. We do not want them to wait; we want them to be treated with dignity and safety.
The Ministry of Health is building and developing, and we stand with you. However, this particular file cannot afford further delay.
May God heal our patients, protect Kuwait, and guide every hand that reaches out to provide care.
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