This is a major advancement for the country! On March 21, 2024, C-Care, a leader in private healthcare services in Mauritius and the region, unveiled its very first oncology center. This ceremony, attended by the Minister of Health and Well-being, Dr. Kailesh Jagutpal, members of the group’s leadership, partners, and teams, underscores its commitment to fighting cancer. Located within C-Care Darné in Floréal, the oncology center represents a significant progress in healthcare delivery. With its integrated care model, the center is designed to enhance the patient experience from diagnosis to treatment and post-treatment support.”

In Mauritius, cancer remains the third leading cause of death, with an estimated 3,201 new cases of cancer expected by 2022, including 1,387 in men and 1,814 in women, according to the National Cancer Registry. Faced with this major challenge, C-Care, which is actively involved in preventing and combating this disease, is stepping up its efforts by opening this state-of-the-art centre. “This unit is a powerful symbol of C-Care’s commitment to fighting this scourge, which still affects far too many of our fellow citizens and profoundly affects the lives of our patients and those around them. With our French partners, we have invested in a state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility equipped with the most advanced capabilities. We have also worked with our oncologists, surgeons and other specialists to establish an innovative and collaborative care pathway, putting the patient at the heart of this shared battle and calling on multidisciplinary teams”. said Hélène Echevin, CEO of the C-Care Group. “But our vision goes beyond technology: we would also like to break the taboo surrounding cancer, because we are convinced that the chances of recovery are greater when patients and their families are well supported, medically, psychologically and socially. It’s important to get people talking about the disease. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the teams, carers and associations who have worked so hard to bring this ambitious project”.

Clive Chung, COO of C-Care Darné, shares the same perspective. He explains that: “The C-Care Cancer Centre embraces a holistic approach to care. They have created an environment that goes beyond traditional medicine by combining cutting-edge technologies, personalized care, and partnerships with committed NGOs such as Link to Life. Their commitment is to optimize well-being, blending technological precision with emotional support for each patient and their family.”

The C-Care Cancer Centre is positioned as a cancer centre offering multidisciplinary and holistic care, supported by state-of-the-art equipment. It is equipped with the Varian Truebeam radiotherapy system, a state-of-the-art device capable of treating cancer cases with exceptional speed and precision. Its multidisciplinary team – made up of experts in surgical, medical, radiological and radiotherapeutic oncology – adopts a patient-centred approach. Using precision medicine, the team works to determine the diagnosis and stage of cancer, and to devise the most appropriate treatment plan for each patient.

In his speech, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal expressed his delight at the establishment of this centre dedicated to the treatment of cancer. According to the Minister of Health and Welfare, there is no doubt that “The C-Care Cancer Centre will help to provide quality healthcare for cancer patients. The inauguration of this new facility marks a further step towards strengthening universal health coverage in Mauritius, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation”.

The main services include radiotherapy on the ground floor, medical oncology (chemotherapy/immunotherapy) and specialist oncology pharmacy services on the first floor, and consultations on the third floor. The C-Care Cancer Centre is preparing to welcome around 450 patients for chemotherapy treatment and 190 patients for radiotherapy treatment in its first year. Although its medical team is made up of 6 oncologists, 2 urologists, 3 surgeons, 3 neurologists and 1 internal medicine doctor, its real vocation is to collaborate closely with the entire medical system, welcoming referrals from any doctor wishing to refer a patient to the centre. The experts are committed to providing high-quality, personalised, patient-centred care, making the centre a benchmark in the fight against cancer.