Asia’s first comprehensive cancer center opened at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital last month. In affiliation with New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, ranked number one cancer hospital in the United States, the facility boasts cutting-edge technology in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Dr. E.K. Yeoh, Hong Kong’s health and welfare secretary, gave the keynote address at the opening ceremony, saying, “I would like to commend Hong Kong Adventist Hospital for its spirit of entrepreneurship.”

Cancer is now the leading cause of medical deaths in Asia. In the United States, while the incidence of cancer has been rising, the cancer mortality rate is decreasing. Leading oncology experts have attributed this to the emphasis on screening, early detection, and advanced treatment protocols.

“We must do more to deter cancer mortality rates in Asia,” said Dr. Kevin Loh, medical oncologist and president of AmMed International.

The new center includes a Positron Emission Tomography Unit, which detects cancer cells early and accurately, as well as the latest model of linear accelerators that enable the most precise delivery of radiation dose to tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

Founded in 1971, Hong Kong Adventist Hospital is a 105-bed facility. It has become well known in the community for its emphasis on preventive medicine through healthful living.