Qatar's Supreme Council of Health has awarded a licence to SAH Global, to build the first ever Proton Therapy Centre in the country, to treat cancer patients in the Middle East.

It has been estimated that the Qatar centre will come up at a cost of approximately $150 million and will be able to treat up to 2200 patients a year, as well as serve as a training and educational centre for physicians and therapists from around the world.

With this approval, SAH Global, a pioneer in bring the technology to the region, can build, own, and operate a Proton Therapy Center in Qatar without the need of a local sponsor.

Additionally, through its subsidiary, SAH Care, patients from the Middle East will
be able to receive treatment at SAH Global’s partner centres until the Doha centre is completed.

Earlier this year the Qatar National Cancer Society and SAH signed a landmark agreement ensuring the availability of Proton Therapy Cancer Treatment to patients referred by the QNCS.

“We are also engaged in discussions with other ministers and potential local partners throughout the GCC and Europe, including Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom as potential sites for our future satellite centers,” said Feroz Agad, chairman and chief executive of SAH Global.

Proton Therapy treatment uses protons, the positively charged particles in the nucleus of an atom. The power of protons allows higher doses of radiation to be used to control and manage cancer while significantly reducing damage to healthy tissue and vital organs.

The result is a higher quality of life and higher success rate than is currently offered by traditional radiation therapy.-TradeArabia News Service