Africa’s first and only Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence at Netcare uMhlanga Hospital has once again been recognised by the International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS), renewing its certification for a further three years. 

“We congratulate Dr YT Singh on this major achievement that underlines the importance of evidence-based, data-driven interventions for protecting the heart health of people during cancer therapies,” says Dr Erich Bock, managing director of Netcare’s hospital division. 

Cardiologist and certified cardio-oncologist, Dr YT (Trishun) Singh, established the world class cardio-oncology centre at the hospital in 2019 to fulfil the need for a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment requiring close collaboration between cardio-oncologists, oncologists and haematologists, to achieve the best possible outcomes for cancer patients. 

“Dr Singh has been instrumental in upskilling our local clinicians and building South African expertise in the field, emphasising heart health within cancer care, which is essential for the best and safest standards of health and care aligned with international guidelines,” says Dr Bock.

Nearly all classes of chemotherapy and radiation to the chest may cause cardiovascular complications, known as cardiotoxicity, which puts patients at greater risk of heart problems. “Cardiotoxicity does not just involve the heart muscle, but may also include heart rhythm disturbances, arteries and veins, heart valves, pericardium, and conduction system,” explains Dr Singh, founder of the Cardio-Oncology Society of Southern Africa (Cososa), who leads the Centre of Excellence. 

Cardiologist and certified cardio-oncologist, Dr YT (Trishun) Singh, established the world class centre at Netcare uMhlanga Hospital in 2019. It is the first and only Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence in Africa recognised by the International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS).

Recently, Cososa, in collaboration with IC-OS, hosted the Global Cardio-Oncology Summit 2025 in Cape Town, bringing together healthcare professionals from cardiology, oncology, haematology, internal medicine, surgery, pharmacy, radiology, nursing, and research.

This was the first time that Africa has hosted an international summit on cardio-oncology. While this discipline is well established internationally, there is a significant need for more cardio-oncology Centres of Excellence to care for cancer patients here in South Africa and across Africa. “This summit offered an opportunity to highlight our nation’s contribution to this vital field,” Dr Singh says.

Cardiotoxicity in people being treated for cancer is aggravated if underlying cardiac disease already exists, or if the patient has comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking history and obesity associated with increased cardiovascular risk. “Anyone due to have potentially cardiotoxic cancer therapy should therefore have a baseline cardio-oncology assessment by an appropriately skilled cardiologist with cardio-oncology training,” Dr Singh says.

In terms of the guidelines and protocols of recognised cardio-oncology societies such as IC-OS, ongoing cardio-oncology assessment during cancer therapy and post-therapy surveillance is considered essential.

“The earlier people undergoing cancer treatment are identified as being potentially at risk for cardiotoxicity, the sooner we can begin interventions to help prevent or minimise damage to the heart,” says Dr Singh. “At the Centre of Excellence, we also recognise that damage to the heart muscle, valves, coronary arteries, and pericardium may occur secondary to radiation therapy to the chest, which can manifest a few years after completing chest radiation, thereby requiring a plan for careful ongoing surveillance.”

Thea Janse van Rensburg, general manager of Netcare uMhlanga Hospital, commended Dr Singh and the team at the Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence on the renewal of the international certification. “This achievement is testament to the expertise, hard work and dedication of the team in upholding consistency of care in this highly specialised field of medicine,” she says.

“Thanks to Dr Singh’s pioneering work, the home of world-class South African cardio-oncology is on the doorstep of the communities our hospital serves, and we thank Dr Singh for lighting this torch of hope for better outcomes, right here on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast.”