OREANDA-NEWS. Continuing its efforts to increase access to radiotherapy for cancer treatment worldwide, Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) announced the installation of a Clinac® iX medical linear accelerator at Instituto Oncologico del Oriente Boliviano in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. First patient treatments were started earlier in August.

In addition to the installation of the Clinac iX, Varian in conjunction with its distributor in Bolivia, HP Medical, held a two day seminar in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for clinicians and radiation therapists. At the seminar, attendees were able to learn about the latest advances in cancer care treatment, including imaging, and treatment planning and delivery.

The seminar keynote speaker, Dr Beatriz Amendola, radiation oncologist, Innovative Cancer Institute stated, "By partnering with Varian on this successful first seminar in Bolivia, we were able to deliver important cancer care information to clinicians and therapists. I look forward to working with Varian and Dr. Oliver Pinto and Dr. Oscar Javier Urenda from the Oncology hospital and training more staff in in the future."

Designed to deliver a wide range of imaging and patient treatment options, the Clinac iX system offers features to facilitate advanced treatments including intensity- modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and stereotactic radiosurgery. Instituto Oncologico del Oriente Boliviano will also be utilizing Varian Eclipse™ treatment planning software and ARIA® information management system to manage, plan and deliver patient treatment.

"With the installation of the Clinac iX and the Varian software, we are now able to quickly deliver much needed cancer care treatment to a greater number of patients in Bolivia," said Dr. Oliver Pinto, head of Radiation Therapy, Instituto Oncologico del Oriente Boliviano.

"As was outlined in the Lancet Oncology Commission report in 2015, a lack of investment in radiotherapy services in the past has severely limited access to radiotherapy treatments worldwide," said Chris Toth, president, Oncology Systems Americas at Varian. "We are proud to be working with Instituto Oncologico del Oriente Boliviano, and making this advanced cancer fighting treatment available to a wider range of patients in Bolivia."

About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, focuses energy on saving lives by equipping the world with advanced technology for fighting cancer and for X-ray imaging. The company is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiation.