Amman, Dec 20 (Petra) -- As part of Jordan's efforts to implement the economic modernization scheme and enhance financial stability, the government prioritized raising health sector standards and improving the quality of life for citizens, particularly cancer patients.

Patients face immense psychological, financial and physical burdens from diagnosis to starting treatment at the King Hussein Cancer Center, a leading comprehensive care centers in the Middle East.

As part of social protection efforts and in a major shift in providing healthcare to most needy and vulnerable groups, the government, represented by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, launched the insurance card service for treatment at the King Hussein Cancer Center through the "Sanad" application.

Under an agreement signed in June with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, Jordanians covered by the insurance can obtain cards, paving the way for activation of the insurance starting January 1st.

Nisreen Qatamish, Director General of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, told Petra in an interview that categories covered by the insurance are Jordanians aged 19 and under (born in 2007 and later), Jordanians aged 60 and over (born in 1965 and earlier), who are not covered by military, civil, or private health insurance, and beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund and their families (of all ages), who are not covered by military health insurance.

The insurance does not cover those diagnosed with cancer before the agreement came into force, provided they have not received treatment outside the center, with the exception of those who were previously diagnosed with cancer, received treatment, and have been cured for more than five years without receiving any treatment for the disease during that period, she explained.

The center is prepared to receive all cancer patients, regardless their health status or disease progression, and provide comprehensive treatment and care according to established protocols, she said.

Qatamish noted that the center has an annual capacity of 5,000 patients, a figure expected to be covered under the new agreement, as revealed by studies conducted by experts at the King Hussein Cancer Center.

On exemptions, she said they will be renewed if they expired before the end of this year, adding that starting next year, there will be no need for renewal as the center will cover the continued treatment of all patients currently receiving treatment under exemptions issued by the Royal Court or the government.

Treatment will continue directly through the center until their treatment plan is completed and they are transferred to survivorship clinics, she said.

In previous remarks to Petra, Qatamish announced that the government, in cooperation with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, launched an insurance program to cover 4.1 million Jordanians with "Care Insurance" for treatment at the center in the event of cancer diagnosis.

This initiative seeks to strengthen social protection through shifting from a system of medical exemptions after diagnosis to a proactive insurance system before illness, thereby promoting health equity and ensuring continuity of treatment and protection for the most vulnerable groups within a sustainable insurance framework, she pointed out.

For her part, Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship spokesperson Shorouq Hilal explained details of elegibility for the new cancer insurance. It involves checking eligibility through the platform https://cancer-insurance.gov.jo, which allows people to obtain the insurance card via the Sanad application.

She said that simply presenting the electronic card through the application is enough, and it will be valid for treatment upon diagnosis, without the need for a printed card.

//Petra//SS

20/12/2025 15:37:31