On Wednesday 26^th June, Mount Alvernia Hospital announced the appointment of Icon Group’s Singapore business – Icon SOC – to build and manage a new state-of-the-art integrated cancer centre on their hospital campus. Planning of the $25 million facility has commenced, with services set to be open for cancer patients in late 2020. The centre will provide a holistic approach to cancer care by bringing together medical oncology, haematology and radiation oncology for Singaporeans in need of best-practice treatment.

Founded on Catholic values by the Sisters from the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM) in 1961, Mount Alvernia Hospital is a 305-bed, not-for-profit general acute care private hospital that has delivered quality healthcare to the local community for 58 years. With a mission of providing excellent and holistic healthcare, Mount Alvernia Hospital and Icon share the same patient-centred values, utilising the latest technologies and expert medical specialist teams to deliver the best care possible.

Icon and Mount Alvernia Hospital’s investment in the new integrated cancer centre is in response to one of Singapore’s fastest growing healthcare demands. Cancer is currently the leading cause of death in Singapore, accounting for 29.1 percent of deaths in 2017[2]. About 37 people in Singapore are diagnosed with cancer every day and 16 people die from it every year[^2,3].

With advancements in cancer treatments, survival rates for patients with cancer have improved over the years. The early detection and screening for some of the common cancers have also led to more timely treatment for many patients.

Taking a holistic approach to cancer care, the upcoming facility will offer a 10-chair day oncology hospital delivering chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy, along with single radiation therapy bunker and onsite PET-CT, pathology and pharmacy services. The centre has the capacity to treat up to 1000 patients a year, including the 25% of patients who require concurrent chemotherapy and radiation.

“As the risk of cancer increases with age, the number of people being diagnosed and living with cancer is likely to continue to rise on the back of an ageing population. We are very privileged to appoint and partner with Icon to support our patients and journey with them during their treatment, together providing holistic care for cancer patients in Singapore. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing patients with the full continuum of care at the time they most need it,” said Dr James Lam Kian Ming, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Alvernia Hospital.

The new centre will be equipped with the latest Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, state-of-the-art technology which provides advanced precision and speed in radiation therapy.

“As an early adopter of the latest treatments in cancer care, including the first in Australasia to introduce HyperArc to treat advanced brain metastases, this centre will mean patients have access to best-practice cancer care earlier. A combination of world class expertise and state-of-the-art technology is central to our commitment and investment in Singapore and Asia,” said Mark Middleton, Group Chief Executive Officer, Icon Group – the parent company of Icon SOC.

Icon’s global partnership with Varian Medical Systems will see this centre become the regional training hub for radiation oncologists, medical physicists and radiation therapists in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Varian is delighted to be selected by both Icon and Mount Alvernia Hospital to bring the best possible radiation oncology technology and techniques to Singaporeans, while delivering vital training for specialist clinicians. Building workforce capability and capacity to deliver world-class radiation therapy is something cancer patients across the APAC region deserve,” said Mr Kenneth Tan, President, Oncology Systems Asia Pacific, Varian Medical Systems.

Icon has a strong history of investing in best-practice cancer care in the region, including recent announcements to bring care to residents in Chongqing and Qingdao across China.

[2] Ministry of Health, Singapore. 2016. Principal Causes of Death. [Retrieved 6 June 2019]; Available from: https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/statistics/Health_Facts_Singapore/Principal_Causes_of_Death.html

[3] Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Registry Report 2015. [Retrieved 6 June 2019]; Available from: https://www.nrdo.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider3/Publications-Cancer/cancer-registry-annual-report-2015_web.pdf?sfvrsn=1dd97be4_10