Iraq and AstraZeneca sign MOU regarding cancer treatments

INA - BAGHDAD

The Cancer Council at the Ministry of Health signed on Monday, a memorandum of understanding related to cancer treatments with the international company AstraZeneca.

The Minister of Health, Salih Al-Hasnawi, and the British Ambassador, Stephen Hitchen attended the signing as "the MOU specializes in introducing innovative and modern treatments as well as diagnostic tests for cancer in the early stages of the disease."

“The Cancer Council in the Ministry of Health signed a memorandum of understanding on cancer treatments with the international company AstraZeneca, with the aim of exchanging experiences, training Iraqi doctors and providing treatments, in addition to modernizing the cancer treatment system in Iraq," said the Minister of Health Salih Al-Hasnawi to the Iraqi News Agency - INA. 

He noted, "The partnership between the Ministry of Health and the foreign private sector will reflect positively on the services provided to oncology patients in Iraq."


In turn, the director of AstraZeneca in Iraq, Ayman Rahhal, stressed to INA, “We are happy to sign this memorandum with the Iraqi Ministry of Health, represented by the Cancer Council, as it aims to increase awareness and education about cancer for it is a very serious disease.”

"Increasing awareness and education at the patient level, using early diagnosis of cancer, increasing direct education and training for medical staff in Iraq, and using the required treatments more quickly will contribute to reducing the impact of the disease," he included.

He pointed out, "The focus will be on medicines for cancer diseases such as lung, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer."