Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan held a meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, to discuss joint initiatives in the field of oncology.
The meeting took place on November 28 in Vienna during the ministerial conference on nuclear science, technologies, and applications. According to the Ministry of Health's press release, the discussion focused on ongoing and future technical cooperation projects between Armenia's Ministry of Health and the IAEA.
Minister Avanesyan expressed satisfaction with the longstanding productive collaboration with the Agency in advancing oncology care. She specifically highlighted the support extended to Armenia's National Oncology Center, which has made complex medical services more accessible to patients. The minister also presented recent investments and initiatives in oncology carried out by both the public and private sectors.
Director General Grossi commended the Armenian government's dedication and the health sector's efforts in enhancing cancer care. He reaffirmed the IAEA's commitment to continuing and expanding its cooperation with Armenia in this crucial area.
BMG reports that approximately 7,700 new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually in Armenia. Since 2019, surgeries for the removal of malignant tumors have been performed under the state healthcare program. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Armenia. Over the past three decades, mortality from cancer has risen by 50%, increasing from 7,022 cases in 1990 to 10,598 cases in 2021.
