Cancer care project opened

YOGYAKARTA: An Indonesian-Dutch health care project for cancer patients opened Tuesday at state-run Sardjito Hospital.

The Health Care Project on Oncology is held in cooperation with Gadjah Mada University's School of Medicine, the Indonesia- Netherlands Forum, the Association of Indonesian Hospitals and the Netherlands' Koningen Wilhelmina Fonds or Queen Wilhelmina Fund.

Managing director of the project, Salamun, said the objective was to improve the quality of medical personnel -- including paramedics, nurses and technicians -- in the treatment of cancer.

The project will include activities ranging from interinstitutional visits between the two countries and doctoral education programs, he said. The project spans five years and is also being carried out in Bandung and Jakarta.

"This is a good development as programs in the fight against cancer have not been a priority in both countries despite the increasing demand (for better) handling of the disease," Salamun said.

The local government of Yogyakarta, Sardjito Hospital and Gadjah Mada's medicine school are constructing a Rp 7.5 billion building for an integrated cancer service.

Two other programs -- the founding of a Yogyakarta center for pediatric oncology and a joint training force -- are also to be included in the project. (swa)