On the International Day of cancer prevention, which this year conveys the meaningful message “I can, you can,” the Hospital University Centre “Mother Teresa” in Tirana provided to patients of Oncology a completely reconstructed radiotherapy ward.
Following an investment of 315 million ALL by the Austrian credit, the first linear accelerator has been installed as the latest technology of modern equipment for the multidisciplinary treatment with high precision of tumours.
The accelerator has been located in the new building (the bunker with a two-unit capacity), which is an approximately 260 million ALL investment of the government. A new accelerator is expected to be installed next year.
Thanks to this important investment, the UHC will significantly improve the radiotherapy treatment of patients affected by tumours. Approximately 60 patients per day and 640 patients a year will benefit from this service.
A special attention has been paid in the past two years to preventive measures and early detection of tumours. Thus, in 2015, two mobile mammography units performed for free 4800 preventive examinations for women living in areas where there isn’t any stationary mammography unit. Whereas, all of the stationary mammography units performed 3317 preventive examinations in 2014. In addition, young doctors specialized in this field are joining the medical staff in hospitals across the country.
Accompanied by Minister of Health Ilir Beqaj, Prime Minister Edi Rama visited today the HUC and met with leaders of the Centre, and with a group of oncologists and medical physicists who made the linear accelerator operative.
Director of the University Hospital Centre “Mother Teresa” Ogerta Manastirliu noted that the new cabinet of radiotherapy is the most important investment for UHC, and informed that the first treatment with radiotherapy will start in early March. “This is the most important investment for the oncology service, a 260 million ALL investment financed by the Albanian government for the construction of facilities to accommodate the linear accelerator. In addition, thanks to the Austrian loan, the Government has funded the linear accelerator, a device of the latest generation technology, which treats with radiotherapy patients who have been diagnosed with malignant tumours. In the radiotherapy unit, we can treat approximately 640 patients a year, and some 60 therapeutic procedures can be carried out per day. This centre will operate thanks to a multidisciplinary team, thanks to medical physicists who are currently testing this device, and we believe that we will make the first radiotherapy treatment in early March.”
The Head of the Oncology Service said that the renovated structure of radiotherapy will significantly improve service to these patients. “You see that this is a pretty improved infrastructure. A completely renovated equipment and structure that will advance the standards for the treatment of our patients in oncology. This is good news for all of us, patients and their families. ”
Pointing out the government’s commitment for the prevention of tumour diseases, Minister of Health Ilir Beqaj said that the modern radiotherapy centre is in the wake of meeting these commitments. “We are committed to give tumours a special focus, and of course this new centre of modern radiotherapy comes in the wake of meeting these commitments. Symbolically, we chose this day, because February 4th is world day for the fight against cancer. We have made not a few efforts in these two and a half years, although we are aware that a lot more work is needed to significantly improve the service for this kind of diseases. Starting February 1, mammography is free for anyone, in any circumstance, and it was not this way before. This 600 million ALL investment is to support Albanian citizens”- Minister Beqaj said.
In addition to thanking for the work done, Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the aim of the government is to enable contemporary standards at every health institution across the country, not only to improve service to patients, but also to create optimal conditions for doctors to practice their human profession.
“Better and more contemporary standards are envisaged to give doctors the opportunity to develop themselves as professionals, in conditions similar to those of their colleagues abroad. For years this has not been a university hospital centre, but has been at the same time the hospital for all of the country. The aim is to distribute the load and have several levels. I think that the check-up will continue providing some information and help us create a first base. I think that the service provided by the family doctor, this year already for free, is another good condition but it still needs to be strengthened, by enabling the ongoing education of family doctors and stimulating the system through investments. Of course, beyond regional hospitals, there is no reason for this centre to not be a centre of excellence. This is the goal for some other parts of the Hospital University Centre, whose conditions are still similar to those of this unit before this transformation. We will succeed. The plan and the next steps have been made clear. We do lack neither the desire nor the courage. But above all, I reiterate with conviction, not just formally, we have a good foundation where we can count on, and this is human resources”- the Prime Minister said.
