Oncology and radiology are among the most rapidly developing fields of healthcare, Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Natalya Petkevich said at the opening of the 15th Congress of Oncologists and Radiologists of the CIS and Eurasia, which is taking place in Minsk.
“Oncology and radiology are among the most rapidly developing fields of healthcare, but at the same time, they are among the most sensitive and even frightening for our patients,” said Natalya Petkevich.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that oncologists daily operate at the intersection of high technology, ethics, and psychology, making decisions that affect not just health, but people’s lives and their quality of life.
Natalya Petkevich is confident that treatment success can only be ensured through the integration of all components of this process: from early and accurate diagnosis, to designing a treatment plan, adjusting it as necessary, and right down to the conversation with the patient.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that today’s oncologist is “not just a specialist who follows protocols and guidelines, but an architect of patient navigation through the labyrinth of a difficult life situation in which, unfortunately, a person has found themselves”.
Natalya Petkevich added that alongside treatment issues, it is important not to forget the other side of the matter - the psychological side, the soul, the emotions of the patient and their family. “In your hands is not just health, but the patient’s destiny. Success will come when two components, the medical and the psychological, are combined,” she said.
The Deputy Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that oncology and radiology have come a tremendous way to achieve a completely different quality of work. But despite all the breakthrough high technologies, the core principles remain the same: early diagnosis, quality of treatment, and quality of the patient’s life.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko pays enormous attention to the development of oncology and the funding of this field, the vice premier stated. She added that issues of prevention, early diagnosis, medical check-ups for the entire population of the country, and ensuring quality treatment are the main components of the Health of the Nation state program for 2026-2030.
“Today, cancer is, unfortunately, an undefeated enemy. And it can only be defeated by combining the intellect, technology, and efforts of all countries,” Natalya Petkevich emphasized.
The 15th Congress of Oncologists and Radiologists of the CIS and Eurasia is taking place at the Minsk International Exhibition Center BelExpo on 22-24 April.
