How We Work
PACT seeks to improve or expand all aspects of Member States ability to apply radiotherapy. While technology transfer is a necessary element of PACT, technology alone cannot provide a meaningful and sustainable solution for the world's radiotherapy needs. Issues related to professional training and human resource management at radiotherapy centres, facilities development, radiation safety and monitoring, and programme quality standardization and assurance are integral to PACT's objectives and activities. In addition to raising resources to establish, improve or expand radiotherapy treatment capabilities where unmet need exists, PACT responds to the most frequent problems encountered by developing countries.
PACT seeks to:
- Help medical and cancer treatment centres, ministries of health and other health sector institutions analyse options, formulate policies and set priorities for investments in radiotherapy, and translate investments into radiotherapy capacity development;
- Provide clinical/scientific training, management skills and other resources to help institutions take best advantage of trained staff and equipment for safe and effective operations;
- Promote effective, well-balanced national strategies for cancer control, including appropriate disease surveillance to ascertain local cancer conditions and requirements; and
- Enhance technical, legal and administrative capabilities to implement and monitor quality assurance and regulatory systems, including those appropriate for radiation protection, safety and security.
PACT relies on the IAEA's long track record of success in providing essential equipment, and training staff to diagnose and treat cancer patients safely and effectively using radiation therapy. Since 1980, the IAEA has invested some $150 million in developing, maintaining or upgrading cancer diagnostic and radiotherapy centres throughout Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Since 1995, the IAEA Technical Cooperation office has implemented over 400 cancer related projects, and Member States' needs are still expanding.