Cancer treatment facility to be ready by end of year

By LULU MARK
A modern cancer treatment facility at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) will be ready by the end of this year, Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Sir Puka Temu says.
He said Government had provided funding support to establish a cancer centre at Port Moresby General Hospital and rehabilitate the one at Angau in Lae.
Sir Puka said this during contract-signing for procurement, installation and commissioning of the linear accelarator (linac) for radiotherapy treatment between Central Supplies and Tenders Board, PMGH and Varian Medical Systems Pty Ltd on Tuesday.
Varian is one of the only two manufacturers of Linacs in the world.
PMGH signed the contract to procure the Halcon, which is the latest model of Linac from Varian.
Sir Puka said Government was committed to bring PMGH from level 6 to level 7 with all the specialist services provided.
He said based on that, PMGH had started project construction and development, including purchase of the linac.
“We are a member and signatory to the International Atomic Energy Agency, hence, Parliament passed the radiation safety legislation last year,” Sir Puka said.
“Now we are working very hard on the regulations.
“With the law passed, we are moving forward to bringing in the equipment. This now offers to our people the opportunity to access high-standard, high-quality cancer treatment facility within the country.
“The media has been bringing this case up to the Health Department and myself, as the minister.
“This very important service will be delivered to the people.”
Sir Puka said the same would be done for Angau, with plans in the pipeline for a cancer centre in the Highlands.
Varian managing director of Australasia, Chris Cowley, said the new radiation therapy equipment allowed for several patients to be treated in one day.