My dream for Palestinian cancer patients

When a patient's cancer continues to progress despite available treatment, a clinical trial testing an investigational anti-cancer medicine may offer an option worth exploring.  

For Palestinian cancer patients in the West Bank, however, such opportunities may never even be considered because there is no clearly documented, systematic pathway connecting their treating oncologists with Israeli hospitals conducting therapeutic cancer trials. 

This gap is particularly relevant to Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, an important provider of Palestinian cancer care that offers chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and supportive services.  

Although the hospital has participated in clinical research, I could not identify an ongoing program there of industry-sponsored trials testing investigational anti-cancer medicines in publicly available trial registries, nor a documented mechanism through which its oncologists can routinely obtain clinical trial assessments from Israeli research hospitals. Consequently, potentially appropriate research opportunities may never be identified or discussed with patients who might qualify for further evaluation. 

I propose that Jewish philanthropic foundations and individual donors fund the establishment of a structured clinical trial referral and assessment program, connecting Palestinian oncologists at Augusta Victoria Hospital and other hospitals and oncology centres throughout the West Bank with Israeli hospitals conducting therapeutic oncology trials.  

Through such a program, Palestinian oncologists could refer potentially eligible patients to Israeli clinical trial investigators, securely share relevant medical information with patient consent and obtain preliminary assessments before patients need to travel. Philanthropic funding would support dedicated clinical coordinators who would facilitate communication between participating institutions, organise medical assessments and assist patients throughout the referral process and any subsequent trial participation.