Al-Ahsa Oncology Conference: A shift towards targeted therapies and personalized medicine
The extensive scientific discussions at the Al-Ahsa Oncology Conference essential recommendations calling for an immediate and radical change in the treatment protocols followed, stressing the need to adopt “targeted therapies” in the first lines of treatment, based on the latest rigorous studies that proved their maximum effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes.
The scientific outcomes of the conference confirmed that modern health practice is no longer a luxury, but rather requires the use of these advanced procedures, given the tangible positive results they have shown, which raise the quality of care provided to cancer patients and significantly increase the chances of recovery compared to traditional methods.
The context of health transformation and Vision 2030
These recommendations align with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, one of the programs under the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to facilitate access to and improve the quality of healthcare services. The shift towards medicine a significant leap forward in the history of cancer treatment, as it relies on understanding the genetic makeup of both the patient and the tumor. This allows physicians to select the most effective medication with the least harm to healthy tissue, marking a gradual move away from the widespread chemotherapy that has been prevalent for decades.
Official sponsorship and government support
These recommendations came during the inauguration of the conference activities by the Deputy Governor of Al-Ahsa, Muath Al-Jaafari, under the generous patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, Governor of Al-Ahsa, and organized by the Al-Ahsa Health Cluster at the Al-Ahsa Intercontinental Hotel.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Governor emphasized that His Highness the Governor's patronage of this event embodies his profound concern and unwavering commitment to the health of citizens, as well as his constant guidance to enhance the quality of healthcare services and support initiatives that promote prevention and early diagnosis. Al-Jaafari explained that this support clearly reflects the wise leadership's vision of providing the best services to the community and strengthens the efforts of medical personnel to deliver outstanding healthcare.
Integration of health sectors
For his part, the CEO of Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Dr. Khalid Al-Mulla, said: “The conference comes to embody the integration between all medical and health sectors working in Al-Ahsa that treat cancer diseases, and also with the support of associations specializing in this field, and the support of our partners from the companies sponsoring the conference.”.
Al-Mulla reviewed the most prominent figures and topics, saying: “The conference contains more than 16 accredited educational hours, and more than 45 lecturers and participants from inside and outside the Kingdom, embodying all journeys of cancer treatment, starting from preventive treatment and early detection, up to treatment of various types, whether hormonal, radiological or others, and ending with the rehabilitation stage.”.
Personalized medicine: The patient is a partner in decision-making
In detailing the precise scientific recommendations, the Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Abdulali, explained the radical shift in treatment methods, saying: “We are discussing the most prominent scientific findings from recent studies and scientific developments in targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine, which places the patient at the heart of the treatment decision, not as a general characteristic, but rather as having unique biological characteristics.”.
Al-Abdali pointed out that recent studies talk about targeted therapies in the first lines of treatment, stressing the readiness of local centers to keep pace with this development: “These practices, thank God, we keep pace with them continuously at Hamad Al-Jabr Oncology Center, and oncology centers in general in our beloved Kingdom, to keep pace with everything that would raise the level of care, and to reach the hope of recovery, God willing, for cancer patients.”.
The ceremony concluded with the Deputy Governor honoring the organizing and scientific committee and the sponsors, and viewing the accompanying exhibits, after which the intensive scientific sessions began, lasting two days, to discuss the latest clinical developments and highlight evidence-based practices, thus enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional center in advanced healthcare.
