His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the establishment of the Brunei Cancer Centre, whose function shall be to treat cancer cases in the country.

In reviewing the roles and functions of the centre, His Majesty has commanded for the Oncology Department in Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital to be consolidated and merged with the Brunei Cancer Centre, in order to create a single centre responsible for the treatment of cancer cases in the country.

In line with the review of the centre, the Maxillo Facial and Facial Plastic Surgery Department is also consolidated and placed under the same administration as the Brunei Cancer Centre and Brunei Neuroscience Stroke Rehabilitation Centre.

Following the consolidation and centralisation of the respective centre and department, His Majesty has consented for the appointment of Members of the Board of Directors for the Brunei Cancer Centre, Brunei Neuroscience Stroke Rehabilitation Centre and Maxillo Facial and Facial Plastic Surgery Department, as follows:

Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, is appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hisham bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Permanent Secretary (Policy & Investment) at the Ministry of Finance, is appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Following have been appointed as Members of the Board of Directors: Professor Datin Seri Laila Jasa Dr Uta Meyding-Lamade, Head of Neuroscience Stroke Rehabilitation Centre and Head of Krackenhaus Nordwest (KHNW) Hospital Department of Neurology; Dato Seri Laila Jasa Dr N Ravindranathan, Executive Director, Brunei Cancer Centre and Maxillo Facial and Facial Plastic Surgery Department; Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education and Vice Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Khalifah bin Pengiran Haji Ismail, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health; and Haji Mohd Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim, Senior Counsel, Prime Minister's Office.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors is directly responsible to His Majesty for reporting all affairs relating to the Brunei Cancer Centre, Brunei Neuroscience Stroke Rehabilitation Centre and Maxillo Facial and Facial Plastic Surgery Department.

Following the consolidation and centralisation of the respective centre and department, His Majesty has consented for the appointment of Professor Datin Seri Laila Jasa Dr Uta Meyding-Lamade, as Executive Director of the Brunei Neuroscience Stroke Rehabilitation Centre and Dato Seri Laila Jasa Dr N Ravindranathan as Executive Director of the Brunei Cancer Centre and Maxillo Facial and Facial Plastic Surgery Department.

The Management of the Brunei Cancer Centre announced that with the consent of His Majesty, effective December 3, 2012, all correspondence as well as future official duties and activities shall use the name "the Brunei Cancer Centre (TBCC)" and Brunei Neuroscience Stroke Rehabilitation Centre.

The Management of the Brunei Cancer Centre also announced that as part of His Majesty's initiative to ensure that the Brunei Cancer Centre is able to provide excellent and effective clinical cancer treatment to the citizens and residents of this country, His Majesty has consented for the appointment of the following Visiting Specialists:

1. Professor Karol Sikora, as Chief Advisor; 2. Professor Jason Cabot, as Clinical Specialist; 3. Dato Dr Ibrahim Wahid, as Clinical Specialist; 4. Dr Azura Rozila Ahmad, as Clinical Specialist; 5. Dr G C Schliesser, as Specialist Medical Oncologist; and 6. Dato Seri Laila Jasa Dr Babu Sukumanan, as Medical Director at the Brunei Cancer Centre.

The management also announced that effective December 3, 2012, there will be a number of telephone lines introduced to assist members of the public seeking treatment and prevention advice for cancer. They are as follows:

Appointment Hotline: 7225555. This number is for appointments between 8am and 5pm only (Monday to Friday). All newly diagnosed cancer patients will be seen within 24 hours or within five days referral.

Complaints Hotline: 7227777. This line is open to receive complaints and feedback on the service provided by the centre in its efforts to improve the level of service provided to members of the public. - Borneo Bulletin (5 December 2012)