MINSK, 20 February (BelTA) – The government supports efforts to detect oncological diseases at an early stage, BelTA learned from Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko.
Igor Petrishenko said: “We are going to get behind and push for timely diagnostics by every means available. We would like to stop the disease in time and get people back to their families, to their jobs.”
The deputy prime minister views early diagnostics of oncological diseases as a way to reduce demographic losses, reduce mortality rate, this is why he is in favor of screening tests for cancer. The relevant work was discussed as Igor Petrishenko visited the N. N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center of Belarus on 20 February.
“We decided on early detection methods, on screening tests in order to find the disease in time at the first stage or the second one. It is much more difficult to help people at later stages. We focused on what can be done from the organizational and methodological point of view in order to improve the structure of oncological aid available to our citizens,” Igor Petrishenko said.
Director of the National Cancer Center Oleg Sukonko mentioned how the center’s physical infrastructure had improved, what new equipment and treatment methods had become available. Cutting-edge Belarusian methods are being embraced not only in the country, but abroad, too. More and more targeted medications of Belarusian make are used to treat people.
On the whole, according to Igor Petrishenko, the government pursues a policy designed to improve the nation’s health. A healthy lifestyle should be encouraged in families and at work.