The Saudi Register of Oncology is one of the first, if not the first, national registers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, established in 1412H-1992 under the supervision and funding of the Ministry of Health of the King Faisal Special Hospital and the Riyadh Research Centre; it is the oncology centre of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - that date under the name of the National Oncology Registry - with the participation of the health sectors that were providing specialized treatment services to cancer patients such as: the Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh, the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, the King Saud University Hospital, the King Abdel Aziz University Hospital, the King Faisal University Hospital and the Internal Security Forces Hospital. At that time, the Ministry of Health did not operate specialized hospitals. The name of the National Oncology Register was changed to the Saudi Oncology Register on 1429H/2008. The new name appeared on the 2004 report and was linked to the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization.
The statistical information provided by the Saudi Oncology Register has been crucial for the development of health and preventive services for cancer patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past 30 years. The Ministry of Health has also joined the specialized medical services providers of cancer patients with the opening of a number of medical reference cities and specialized oncology centres since 1425 A/2005.
In view of the extension and development of treatment services for oncology in all health sectors, the Health Services Board then decided on 18 September 1428H (30 September 2007) to link the Saudi Oncology Registry to the Health Services Board. The registry was then transferred from the Registry Office to the King Faisal Specialized Hospital to the new Registry Office at the Health Services Board in 1435H (2014) and was linked to the administration of the National Oncology Centre and the National Health Information Centre.
The Saudi Oncology Register collects information through cancer registers at oncological centres in various health sectors in the Kingdom. All cancer cases are recorded and data entered using an approved automated programme. Data quality is reviewed, data analysis is analysed and annual reports are issued at the head office of the Saudi Health Council.
Twenty reports have been issued to date and the following will be issued consecutively.
