Advanced technology needed to fight cancer
The conference, which was organised by Siemens in collaboration with the Ministry of Health targets the three most common cancers in Viet Nam, lung cancer, liver cancer and breast cancer.
"Our physicians are equipped with the latest information on the world's most advanced applications and technologies in oncology diagnosis and treatment thanks to such events. This is a very good opportunity for us to discuss and share experiences with colleagues from developed countries", said Professor Hoang Duc Kiet, President of Viet Nam's Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Society.
"Early detection has significant clinical and financial benefits for patients in terms of both increasing the survival rate and reducing treatment costs. Siemens advanced technology and solutions have enabled these benefits to be achievable at the greatest extent," said Erdal Elver, President and CEO of Siemens Limited Viet Nam.
According to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), about 12 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2008 of which about 20 per cent were caused by virus and bacterium. Viet Nam is reported to have the third highest rate of liver cancer cases in the world. According to an unofficial source, about 70,000 out of 150,000 patients die of cancer each year in Viet Nam. It is predicted that there will be 200,000 new cases of cancer and about 100,000 people die of cancer each year by 2020.
At the approval of the health minister, a network of cancer detection and protection is being established over the next 10 years from central to local hospitals, according to deputy health minister Dr Nguyen Thi Kim Tien.
One of the most important objectives is to train medical staff in order to meet the demands of cancer diagnostics and treatment. In addition, the application of advanced technologies is a prerequisite to improving the quality of oncology care.
Source: Viet Nam News, 8 May, 2010.
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