A second linear accelerator, state-of-the-art laser technology equipment due to give more patients with cancer access to the latest treatments, has been most recently installed at the Radiotherapy Department at the Oncology Ward at the University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” in Tirana. The EUR 1.2 million linear accelerator, an investment by the Albanian government in cooperation with the Vienna Atomic Agency, will allow staff to deliver cutting edge treatment techniques and double the number of treatments for cancer patients fighting the disease, but they had wait for a long time in the queue for radiotherapy sessions.
Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu visited the Radiotherapy Department today to look closely at this technological transformation at the Oncology Hospital. “Following the installation of the first accelerator in the radiotherapy unit, we install the second accelerator today. Installation of the pair of accelerators paves the way towards improving treatment of all tumour diseases through the linear accelerator. Nowadays, the queues are significantly reduced as with an accelerator operating, during the maintenance period, treatment had to stop, but the installation of the second accelerator, an investment of about 1.2 million euros of the Albanian government and the Vienna Atomic Agency, made this high therapeutic equipment available, “Health Minister said in her remarks during the visit.
The radiotherapy doctor Orges Spahiu also affirmed that installation of two linear accelerators, replacing the era of cobalt cancer treatment therapy at the University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”, represents another step towards meeting international standards.
“The radiotherapy unit has now the potential to deliver contemporary cancer treatments. With the introduction of new techniques, in terms of software, we attain European standards and allow for high-precision tumour treatment, which we could not achieve with older devices earlier,” he said.
According to the Health Minister, with the second linear accelerator installed, the oncology ward staff will be able to treat around 1200 cancer patients a year. “Such equipment treats some 45 patients a day. The two accelerators will now provide cancer treatment for 90 patients per day, or 1200 patients a year. This is really a high standard that ranks us among the countries, which provide very good treatment of oncologycal diseases through radiotherapy,” Manastirliu added.
“A completely different new world” if compared to four years ago, Prime Minister Edi Rama said as he commented the transformation the oncology service has undergone over the past few years. “An unprecedented depression prevailed around here. Understandably, things can not all be done at once and a lot remain do be done, but if we talk about the Oncology Department and treatment one should not forget that 4 years ago only this place was a hallway to the other world …!” the Premier stated among other things.
The ward’s medical personnel acknowledge that the Oncology Department has obviously undergone a dramatic transformation. Silva Çeliku, one of the most senior oncology doctors with a 35-year long career at this hospital centre, said: “The radiotherapy unit in particular was a dream. We really see a great change.”
The herceptin treatment problem, a vital drug for the breast cancer treatment has been ultimately resolved as the drug is included on the Reimbursement Drug List available free of charge to all patients.
“I have completed the cancer treatment cycles in Italy. I started taking herceptin in October and treatment last one year. First I had intravenous infusion treatment. Today we find here at Oncology Hospital the commodity and the same high standard treatment just like in Italian hospitals,” a patient said.
The head of the chemotherapy ward, Dhurata Tarifa, said that the problem of cancer patients from other districts of the country is being solved. These patients are being given herceptin treatment at the regional hospitals and the medical staff is being trained for the service. “We are in a very favourable situation since the herceptin was included on the reimbursement drug list. The move helped us to deliver treatment to patients here in Tirana, as well as to patients coming from other districts of the country, because cabinets in large districts are working regularly. Meanwhile, we are training doctors and medical staff at regional hospitals on the application of this vital drug,” she said.
