Next year in Astana will open a new National Scientific Oncology Center ("NSOC"), equipped with modern high-tech equipment, for the first time presented in Kazakhstan. Alikhan Smailov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, familiarized himself with the construction progress. 

The new center is a budget investment project, for implementation of which leading international companies from Switzerland and the USA were attracted. To date, construction work is 90% complete, in particular, the treatment and diagnostic building for 210 beds with radiation and nuclear medicine centers, proton therapy center, administrative and technical blocks have been erected.

  

At the same time, connection to the city engineering networks of water, heat and electricity supply has been performed, finishing of rooms and wards has been completed. Currently, delivery, commissioning and testing of medical equipment are being carried out.

According to the head of the National Scientific Oncology Center, oncologist Sanzhar Shalekenov, it is planned to conduct radionuclide diagnostics, produce radiopharmaceuticals and conduct radionuclide therapy in the new medical center for 6,000 patients per year.

"We have provided for radio-beam treatment. It is represented by five devices: one for contact-beam therapy and four more for non-contact treatment. These are such devices as Edge, Turbine and Ethos. Some of them are presented in Kazakhstan for the first time," he said.

At the same time, the facility will launch a proton center, the first of its kind in the former Soviet Union. Each year, 800-1,000 patients will go through it. 

"We also have a center for oncohematology. There are 15 beds for bone marrow transplantation. These are absolutely sterile, clean premises where 180 to 200 transplants are planned to be carried out per year. Thus, we will be able to cover one third of the needy patients in the republic," Sanzhar Shalekenov said.

He added that the second block of the NSOC will be a scientific and educational center. It will also house a hospital with 140 beds, three operating rooms and a large diagnostic polyclinic.

During the visit to the new medical center, Prime Minister noted that more than 37 thousand cases of cancer and more than 13 thousand deaths are registered in the republic annually. 

"To improve the situation, we are specially building the National Scientific Oncology Center in Astana. This is a complex facility. To make it meet international standards, an international company with relevant experience has been involved in the construction," Alikhan Smailov said. 

Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Health together with the general contractor to ensure commissioning of the facility with the launch of the proton therapy center by August 1, 2024. 

Adilbek Mukazhanov, deputy head of the NSOC for medical work, oncology surgeon, told more about the proton therapy center equipped with a special apparatus cyclotron.

"This will be the only center in Kazakhstan and Central Asia where proton therapy will be performed. There are no more than 100 such centers in the world. We have one of them," he said.

According to him, the cyclotron will produce proton beams and deliver two so-called treatment waves, due to which it will be possible to irradiate two patients simultaneously.

"The peculiarity of this proton therapy is that unlike photon linear gas pedals, here the irradiation will be more targeted and gentle. This is especially important when it comes to children and weakened patients. That is, there is minimal radiation load, minimal damage to surrounding tissues. At the same time, the probability of development of secondary radiation tumors will be minimized," Adilbek Mukazhanov stressed.

Recall that in early October this year, Alikhan Smailov signed a government resolution on approval of the Comprehensive Plan to combat cancer for 2023-2027.

The document was developed in pursuance of the instructions of the Head of State and is aimed at comprehensive modernization of the oncological service of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This involves the introduction of highly effective early diagnosis, development of specialized treatment and rehabilitation, as well as strengthening human resources and science. 

It is expected that in each region patients will have the opportunity to receive modern radiation treatment at the level of world standards by installing the latest equipment. Along with this, access to necessary medicines will be ensured.

#Alikhan Smailov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Construction #Healthcare #President's instruction #Science