STRATUS Alternative Fund SCC (Stratus), the alternative investment platform operated by NCB Capital Markets Limited (NCBCM), announced its landmark investment in the first full-service cancer treatment facility in Jamaica and the western Caribbean.

Stratus has provided equity financing of US$1.5 million to Alliance International Medical Limited (AIM) through its Private Equity and SME Fund.

“By investing in AIM we are fulfilling our promise to unlock remarkable opportunities for visionary Jamaicans like Dr Stanford who dared to dream and give back to our country. Our collaboration with AIM will make cancer care more accessible to Jamaicans and Caribbean nationals,” Simone Hudson, vice-president of alternatives and fund management at NCBCM stated.

Upon completion the state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility will become a comprehensive cancer centre poised to redefine cancer care. Boasting cutting edge technology, staffed by a multidisciplinary team of world-class medical professionals, and with a capacity to diagnose and treat over 5,000 patients annually its services line-up includes chemotherapy/medical oncology, radiation oncology, diagnostics imaging, and onsite surgical care.

Hudson added, “We are more than just financial partners. We are committed to supporting AIM throughout their journey, providing guidance on organisational structure, strengthening their board and governance, devising and executing expansion strategies, and preparing them for future listing opportunities.”

Dr Jason Stanford, AIM’s founder and chief executive officer, expressed his gratitude for Stratus’s investment. He stated, “Stratus has embraced our vision and invested in our mission to enhance the quality of life for our people. Their support is a testament to their belief in our transformative approach to cancer care.”

Stanford shared further, “Our advanced facilities and sophisticated technology, typically found in First World economies, are now accessible right here in the Caribbean. AIM will serve as a pioneering hub, offering patients access to world-class medical expertise and state-of-the-art technology that will revolutionise cancer care in the region.” He explained.

“New treatment options will be readily available in Jamaica’s first and only radio-surgical institute, bolstered by an advanced digital linear accelerator. Our linear accelerator’s onboard imaging (IGRT) and precision allow our physicians to see and track the tumour in real time during treatment. The facility will also be able to provide less invasive surgical procedures with our precision stereotactic radiation beam, allowing patients to have surgical procedures same day without extended post-surgical recovery.”

Recent data from the Jamaica Cancer Registry at The University of the West Indies indicate that, as of 2018, 7,348 cancer cases were recorded in Jamaica. The five most prevalent cancers among the population were prostate, breast, colon, lung, and cervix uteri. According to the Global Cancer Observatory, the Caribbean region experienced 113,280 new cancer cases in 2020.