‘Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum’ Organizes Panel Session on ‘Cancer Insurance and Citizens’ Aspirations”

Special to TAG Educa News Agency 

AMMAN – Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum (TAG-KF), a member of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), hosted Ms. Nisreen Qatamish, Director General of King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF), and Dr. Hazim Al-Rahahleh, Director General of the Social Security Corporation (SSC), in a digitally organized panel on ‘Cancer Insurance; a Holistic Concept of Social Protection in Line with Citizens’Aspirations’, through live streaming on the Forum’s Facebook page.

The panel was organized by TAG-KF on the occasion of the World Cancer Day; an international day marked on February 4 every year to raise awareness on cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment, as a part of its national role in supporting the efforts exerted by the Foundation. The event falls in line with the February national awareness campaign that aims to involve the local community in the raising awareness efforts on cancer risks and the importance of fighting it.

Qatamish stated that the cancer treatment insurance is a national priority as well as a right for every citizen, regardless of the fact that Jordan is experiencing development challenges in light of the increasing costs of cancer treatment and the growing numbers of cancer patients annually, noting that the KHCF has received 65,000 cancer patients since its establishment and the figures continue to grow. She also stated that the Center provides the patients with the best medical treatment programs that compares with the standards provided in the best medical cancer centers in the world, pointing out that 6000 Jordanians and 8000 non-Jordanians are diagnosed with cancer disease every year. 

Qatamish pointed out that such figures would double by 2030 according to UN data, stressing that the ‘Cancer Care Program’ is a primary step taken by the Foundation towards achieving comprehensive medical coverage.

Referring to the cooperation agreement between the KHCF and the Social Security Corporation (SSC) Qatamish explained that the agreement aims at mitigating cancer burden on patients and their families by adopting a participatory model that ensures a fair distribution of resources and obtaining high-quality services, in addition to achieving sustainability in providing funding for cancer treatment.

For his part, Dr. Al-Rahahleh affirmed that the Social Security Corporation has, since its establishment, been offering citizens all kinds of social protection, which led the Corporation to collaborate with the KHCF in providing ‘Cancer Care Program’ for SSC beneficiaries and pensioners; pointing out that the Corporation has recently provided an electronic platform on its website (www.ssc.gov.jo) to enable people to submit subscription applications.

Furthermore, Al-Rahahleh commended the efforts exerted by the KHCF in fighting cancer in Jordan and the Arab region, in addition to the strengthening partnerships with various institutions, bodies and national corporations to achieve its humanitarian goals. He stated that  KHCF and SSC have launched an outreach and media campaign on ‘Cancer Care Program’ in which TAG-KF played a major role in introducing its objectives and goals to all citizens. 

For his part, TAG-KF Executive Director and TAG.Global Education and Youth Consultant, Mr. Fadi Daoud, who moderated the session, stated that the digital virtual sessions conducted by the Forum are considered the best way to easily communicate with interested people and followers since such events provide a good opportunity to help them participate remotely.

Daoud said that institutional partnerships play a major role in integrating roles to face challenges, as well as, to enhance social protection methods, referring to the national role the Forum plays in strengthening the awareness and educational efforts conducted by national institutions.

The Social Security Corporation (SSC) provides an electronic platform through its official website for the purpose of facilitating the process of receiving applications for subscribing to the ‘Cancer Care Program’ that covers cancer’s treatment at the King Hussein Cancer Foundation. The Corporation offers installment payments of the beneficiaries due subscriptions through their pension salaries, with a 10% discount for application  submitted through the platform.