By Annette Kora – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The government has agreed to fund a Heart and Cancer Center at Port Moresby General Hospital through a budget appropriation of K28.5 million which will help to deliver coordinated multi-disciplinary cancer treatment, as per international best practices.
A contract was signed on Tuesday, March 12, by the PNG Government, the National Department of Health and Port Moresby General Hospital with Varian Medical Systems for the procurement of a Linear Accelerator (Linac) to provide radiotherapy treatment facilities in PNG.
The announcement is made to reassure the people of PNG that the Port Moresby General Hospital is on track to provide a modern cancer treatment by the end of this year.
Varian is one of the only two manufacturers of Linacs in the world, where POM Gen signed contracts to procure Halcyon; the latest model from Varian.
The Cancer Centre will comprise a Linear accelerator for radiotherapy, brachytherapy for cervical cancers, chemotherapy; 15 beds and a 100 bedded palliative cancer ward.
Hopefully, this vital new service at the Port Moresby General Hospital will help save many lives who cannot afford to go overseas or get private healthcare.
