IAEA PACT eyes cheap cancer cures
Radiotherapy industry rises to the challenge of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), one year after the UN body called for action on cancer treatment.
Radiotherapy equipment manufacturers and representatives of developing countries have held a meeting in Vienna in order to discus ways in which cheaper cancer treatment devices could be introduced in the world’s poorer countries, a Press TV correspondent reported on Friday.
The meeting was held in line with of the IAEA Program of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) in order to improve the cancer survival rate in impoverished nations by integrating radiotherapy investments into the public health system.
"The program basically works with the World Health Organization and others to help developing countries to create the infrastructure to be able to fight cancer," head of PACT initiative Massoud Samiei told.
The IAEA adopted the strategy as part of its plan to fight chronic illnesses such as cancer which has proven to be deadlier than tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined.
The agency also seeks to help provide the target countries with necessary training and technical know-how in order to bring about local capability for the future maintenance of radiotherapy equipment in these nations.
The program, however, may be hampered unless international donations and governments agree to help launch the production of cheaper radiotherapy equipment.
Generally-admitted estimates indicate that while there is one radiotherapy machine for every 1,500 people in the West, there is only one such machine for every 20 million people in Africa.
Source: presstv.ir
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