In Dominican Republic about 65 % of women with Breast cancer They are diagnosed in Advanced stages.
This represents a challenge for both health of patients as for the efficiency of the system of health. Detecting the disease in its initial phases not only improves probabilities of recoverybut reduces Attention costs and allows Less invasive interventions.
This explained it Melissa DelgadoDirector of Corporate Affairs for Roche CaribeCentral America and Venezuela, a pharmaceutical company that in alliance with the National Cancer Institute Rosa Emilia Sánchez Pérez de Tavares (Incart) They develop a screening program where 233 women examined, 13 have resulted in cancer suspicions.
“I wish we could arrive in stadiums 1 and 2, once we have the first signals,” he longed for during a meeting with members of the press.
In conjunction with the National Program “Chew yourself“, initiative of National Health Service (SNS) and the first lady, Raquel Arbagethe pharmacist created the program “Suspicate, detect and derive”, which allowed the training of more than 200 gynecologists and general doctors of the country’s key hospitals to recognize signs of suspicion and channel patients to specialized centers in a timely manner.
According to Delgado, the ideal is that patients receive care in the first 60 days of the detection of any anomaly In the body, although in reality, they usually reach between 18 to 22 months late to consultations.
As required by the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan), the Breast cancer It is the Second Cancer with the highest incidence In the country, preceded only by the of prostate.
In 2022, Dominican Republic It showed an incidence and mortality rate of 59 and 26 cases per 100,000 women, respectively, registering one of the highest mortality rates in Latin America.
It is for this reason that Roche One was drawn Sustainable strategyunder the slogan “build together a sustainable future for all”, where the preventionthe Early attention and less bureaucratic operating systems.
Financial impact
Meanwhile, Fernando Víquez, leader of ecosystem of Roche Dominican Republichighlighted the impact of the timely attention in it Financial system and of health.
“The earlier the patient arrives, the lower the cost. self -examination It is important, but much more is the mammography. When something is palpated, it’s because it’s too late, you already have a lot of volume“He said.
“For every dollar that is invested in health Preventive, the return It is between two and four dollars, according to data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) “, Melissa intervened.
He commented that, currently, the company has more than 70 Innovative molecules that are in the investigation phase, being the branch of the oncology The one with the greatest interest, although there are also studies focused on hemophilia, Alzheimer’s, sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Similarly, he highlighted the high incidence in the country of chronic noncommunicable diseases, being hypertension and diabetes, together with cancer, and the need to create therapies that can respond to these pathologies.
Delgado made a reflection on the efficient management of resources, innovation in traditional models of adequate purchase and management of medical waste, edges that eventually affect the access of medicines.
About the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), set for the year 2030He said that the expectation is that when they arrive that year they are fulfilled in just 22 %.
“For Rochethe sustainability It is a way of working with purpose, with structural actions that improve the quality of life of people and reinforce the systems of health“He concluded.
