KUALA LUMPUR, 19 March 2023:
National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) is introducing CANSupport – a new digital initiative designed to help improve quality of care for childhood cancer patients in Malaysia – with the aid of Tata Consultancy Services Malaysia (TCS Malaysia) and Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), operator of national carrier Malaysia Airlines.
This new digital solution – to be introduced in phases throughout the year – incorporates an avenue for caregivers to request air transport support from MAG’s airlines for children who need to travel for treatments.
CANSupport is designed to help improve quality of care for childhood cancer patients in Malaysia as this to-be-developed technology platform will support doctors and caregivers to stay connected, while tracking and monitoring their patients’ pain levels and symptoms.
NCSM president Datuk Dr Saunthari Somasundaram explained CANSupport is an important initiative to help improve the quality of care for childhood cancer patients as it will act as a one-stop centre for all cancer-specific services in Malaysia – providing doctors with real-time patient recovery information by leveraging data analytics, resources and teleconsultations.
To be developed by TCS Malaysia, this platform can be accessed by any newly-diagnosed cancer patient or caregiver as part of the initiative. It will be offered in four languages, with support from on-site, manned help desks at all major cancer treatment hospitals.
“CANSupport will also provide free psychosocial support services, including financial, clinical and peer counselling; clinical psychology; play-therapy; and dietetics.”
She noted that NCSM supported over 874,361 Malaysians impacted by cancer in 2022 alone. “With this reach, CANSupport is estimated to potentially reach 10,000 people within the first year and is projected to directly help more than 1,000 childhood cancer patients yearly.”