Filipche: PET center must be urgently put into operation, lives are directly endangered
Filipche calls for the immediate activation of the PET center, saying its non-operation endangers the most seriously ill patients
The leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, Filipche, demanded that the only PET center in the public health system be put into operation immediately, warning that its non-operation directly endangers the health and lives of the most seriously ill cancer patients.
“The PET center only worked for one day and now it is out of operation again,” Filipche said at today’s press conference, adding that this is an extremely important health service for oncology patients, from which the determination of therapy and the further course of their treatment directly depends.
He stressed that around 15 patients a day are among the most seriously ill and that the results of PET scanning decide whether therapy will continue or be modified, depending on the stage of the disease.
“It is about around 15 patients a day who are the most seriously ill patients, who have cancer, whose lives depend on that scan, because that scan determines the therapy or the modification of the therapy depending on the stage in which the disease is,” Filipche emphasized.
Response from the Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health informed last week that the PET scanner in public health was put back into operation after not working for more than one month due to a problem with the cyclotron, the system for producing radioisotopes. Minister Sasho Klekovski explained that the defect was the result of faulty maintenance by the supplier and a specific problem with oil, and that the required material was provided from Istanbul.
Klekovski added that talks are also underway with Sofia for additional procurement of radioisotopes so that scans can be performed on Saturdays, and the statement said that with the material brought from Istanbul up to nine patients per day will be scanned.
Filipche assessed that the PET center has not been functioning for two and a half months and called for an urgent resolution of the problem: “They are now at risk. It has not been working for two and a half months so far. This problem must be resolved urgently. As they know and can, have the PET center operational as early as tomorrow. The health and life of the most seriously ill patients in the country are being directly endangered.”
Photo: Arhiva
