23 June

The opening ceremony of 1st National Conference of Myanmar Society for Radiation Oncology was held in Yangon yesterday morning.

At the event, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe said that this conference will benefit the new generation of radiation therapist and oncologist and develop the field of radiation therapy as it will expose the therapists to new international technologies, developments and experience. Furthermore, it will also bring about a network of international radiation therapist and other medical technicians, which will give Myanmar radiation therapist more opportunities to interact with international organizations.

Radiation Oncology Departments in General Hospitals of Yangon, Mandalay, and Taunggyi are giving treatment to cancer patients. In 2018, there were 10000 out patients and 7300 in patients at Cancer Treatment Unit. According to standards of International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA there must be 1 teletherapy unit, 1 oncologist 1 medical physicist and 2 radio therapist for a population of 250000. The country needs to work these standards.

He also expressed his desire that IAEA helps produce more technicians in that field and conduct skill training courses.

He added that the Ministry will give support for the development of Radiation Therapy and to meet the standards of IAEA.

Then, the Chairman of Myanmar Medical Association, Prof, Dr. U Ye Mya delivered key note speech.

Afterwards, Chairperson of Myanmar Society for Radiation Oncology Prof. Dr Daw Khin Cho Win delivered her welcoming speech.

Prof. Shyam Kishore Shrivastava introduced Federation of Asian Organization For Radiation Oncology(FARO) and Prof. Enrico Tangco, South East Asia Radiation Oncology Group (SEAROG).

Then, Union Minister and entourage look around the medicines and medical equipment on display.

A total of 115 radiation therapists from Myanmar, Japan, India, Philippines and Thailand attended the event.—MNA  (Translated by Alphonsus)