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MINSK, 4 October (BelTA) – New standards for treating cancer patients will be approved in Belarus, BelTA learned from Oleg Sukonko, Director of the N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center of Belarus, during the joint session of the boards of the Belarusian and Russian healthcare ministries on 4 October.

Algorithms for diagnosing and treating malignant neoplasms are reapproved every five years. Considerable amendments and changes have been introduced lately. The new treatment standards are about to be approved by the Healthcare Ministry, said Oleg Sukonko.

Early cancer detection and laparoscopic surgeries are top priorities today. At present 20% of the cancer-related surgeries in Belarus are performed using laparoscopic tools. Laparoscopic surgeries account for 40-50% of the surgeries performed by the urology and gynecology department of the N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center. Programs are in progress in Belarus to screen for cervical cancer, prostate cancer, mammary gland cancer and colorectal cancer. According to Oleg Sukonko, proposals are being developed to screen for cancer in the mouth and the throat. Dentists and ear, nose, throat (ENT) specialists need to be trained for that. Belarusian medics sometimes have to operate on stage 4 cancer patients because such neglected cases are still detected.

Speaking about the export of services, Oleg Sukonko noted that the N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center often welcomes foreign stage 4 cancer patients. Belarusian medics perform radical surgeries in such cases and produce good results.

In 2016 Belarus welcomed a commission, which included specialists of the World Health Organization, the IAEA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The commission concluded that, on the whole, the cancer aid system in Belarus boasts a solid infrastructure, potential for diagnosis and treatment, and highly trained oncologists.

A joint session of the boards of the Belarusian and Russian healthcare ministries took place at premises of the N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center of Belarus on 4 October. The agenda was dedicated to various topics starting with early cancer diagnostics and ending with bone marrow transplants. Each topic contains serious prerequisites for Belarus-Russia cooperation.

Such joint sessions of the boards of Belarusian and Russian ministries are held every year in Belarus and Russia by turns. Representatives of the Standing Committee of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, Belarusian and Russian embassies take part in such sessions among other officials. The first joint session was dedicated to the implementation of and development of Union State programs. The second one focused on trade in medications. The third one touched upon maternity and child welfare service. The theme for this year’s joint session was prompted by Russian colleagues, who wanted to get familiar with the Belarusian experience in this area.