Oncology problems in Kazakhstan. Ways of their solution

Almaty, 6 December 2008, (Khabar) - Round table discussion on solving Kazakhstan’s oncological problems was held. The first presidential fund and a public fund have organized an anti-cancer round table discussion where leading specialists, politicians and representatives of non-governmental organizations discussed such problems as whether it is possible to prevent cancer and what should be done for its successful treatment. Today, 80,000 cases of cancer are registered in Kazakhstan, including 300 children. The government provides such people with free medical services and essential medicines. However, the attendees said that there are a lot of unsolved problems in the area of oncology including the poor availability of modern equipment, qualified physicians, medicine and rehabilitation centres.

Dariga Nazarbayeva, head of First RK President Fund:
- I believe that the most important thing is to begin to work, to attract public attention to the problem and try to solve it by combining the efforts of the state and public organizations. Everything is possible.

Cancer specialists said that the success of treatment of malignant tumors depends on the time of diagnosis. Early diagnosis can prevent tragedies. The motto of the “Together against cancer” activity which was organized by the First President’s Fund and a public fund was “To live tomorrow, receive help in time”. All the money received from this activity amounted to 18 million tenge and will be spent on the treatment of patients with cancer and the purchase of new equipment.