Good news for cancer patients: Czech cancer care is at the West European level.
There are some good news for Czech cancer patients, as Prof Jiri Vorlicek, President of the Czech Society for Oncology, told the journalists earlier today. "Last year, for the first time ever, Czech cancer patients were provided the same quality of treatment as patients in the old European Union countries. A similar volume of resources has been contracted with health insurance companies for this year, and if problems occurred due to the financial crisis, talks will be renewed in mid-year 2009.
There are 64,000 new patients diagnosed with cancer in the Czech Republic each year, the overall number of cancer patients being 350,000. The press conference on Friday will be dedicated to the results of expensive treatment in Complex Cancer Centres (CCCs). Last year's audit of CCCs performed by the Czech Ministry of Health are another topic to be discussed. The audit led to the reduction in number of CCCs from 18 to 13. These Centres will obtain EU resources to be able to purchase the best available equipment and to provide the most advanced treatment. None of the former Centres have not been shut down, cancer care there has been preserved.
Prof Vorlicek reminded to the journalists that there is usually one Complex Cancer Centre per one million inhabitants in EU countries, while there are 13 CCCs per 10 mil. inhabitants in the Czech Republic, largely exceeding the European average. The CCCs were established several years ago, as it was unacceptable to provide all levels of cancer care in about 200 Czech hospitals. Prof Vorlicek said that the centralization of cancer care into top health care facilities is common in all developed countries. He added that the capacity of CCCs is sufficient and that no cancer patient would be rejected.
As stipulated by the Czech Ministry of Health Gazette from December 2008, the most advanced cancer care in the Czech Republic is provided by thirteen Complex Cancer Centres (CCCs) for adults, two Children's Cancer Centres (ChCCs) and seven Haemato-Oncology Centres (HOCs).
12. 2. 2009 Czech News Agency
