First Deputy Health Minister says paediatric oncology is Ministry’s “priority”

Paediatric oncology and provision of children patients with “high quality, contemporary” healthcare services represents a “priority” of the Ministry of Health of Georgia, First Deputy Minister Tamar Gabunia said on Monday. 

Gabunia said the Ministry's new programme for financing treatment for 300 children cancer patients in the country in the “best clinics” around the world would enable them to access the most “modern and innovative high-tech” medical services including proton treatment, a type of radiation therapy that uses protons rather than x-rays.

The initiative was revealed on Monday and involves the Government spending ₾30 million ($12mln) for the purpose annually, with clinics in Israel, Spain and Turkey selected for the project. 

She also noted the significance of surgical interventions using robotics and other interventions in saving lives, noting the standard of medical care would be “considerably improved” by the model in the near future.

Gabunia added the foreign clinics would also help train domestic health professionals to provide the services in Georgia. 

“Oncology services will be developed in Georgia, and the partner clinics that were chosen for the programme based on specific criteria will assist us in training Georgian physicians on the ground to improve the service in the future”, the Deputy Minister added.