OREANDA-NEWS. July 28, 2010. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov has set in front the Government the objectives to build in the regions of Ukraine at least two PET centres (centres of positron emission tomography) a year for early detection of cancer. The Head of Government said that during the opening of the Centre of Nuclear Medicine using PET technology for early detection of cancer at Kyiv City Oncology Hospital.

"Today we open the Nuclear Medicine Centre in Kiev. This centre is unique, and is the first not only in Ukraine but also in Russia. Its level is even higher than the level of many European clinics. It offers unprecedented opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and offers the ability to defeat this terrible disease like cancer, and what is most important - gives people hope. WE need to build at least 10 such centres in Ukraine. We will schedule each year and we will build two such centres, so we could cover all our patients having this severe disease" - the Prime Minister said, adding that Kiev PET centre after opening will carry out equipment calibration and personnel training. The first centre will accept patients before October 14. According to him, patients treating at the Nuclear Medicine Centre will be free and accessible to patients from all over the country.

The Prime Minister stressed that several nationwide specialized medical centres that will work for the whole country and will be equipped with advanced medical equipment are to be built in Kiev. "We will buy equipment not even of today but of tomorrow, to keep pace with the progress of medicine" - he said.

Mykola Azarov entrusted the Ministry of Health jointly with the Academy of Medical Sciences to determine the appropriate list of clinical and diagnostic centres.

"These centres must be integrated with air ambulance for emergency medical care: so that every citizen of Ukraine, whenever he was, knew that he will be provided with skilled medical care. We will find funds for this matter no matter how hard it could be "- said Mykola Azarov.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine noted that the modernization program of medical institutions is one of the main components of the Government ultimate priority - radical improvement of the quality of life in Ukraine.