IAEA Visits Mongolia to Assess Cancer Control Situation and Lay Foundations for Trilateral Cooperation with the Republic of Korea

Comprehensive Analysis and Detailed Blueprint for Future Developments

The mission team identified several critical areas for attention and highlighted the important subject of radiation and safety.

“Medical physics plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of imaging, radiation oncology and radiopharmaceutical therapies while minimizing radiation risks to patients,” says Peter Knoll, Medical Physicist at the IAEA, and a participant in the mission. “It ensures the best possible outcome can be reached for medical procedures involving radiation.”

Other recommendations focused on optimizing the use of existing healthcare facilities from an efficiency and effectiveness point of view.

Future Developments

The mission's findings will contribute to Mongolia's comprehensive blueprint for the establishment of a second National Cancer Center (NCC2) - following further studies - and the construction of a new, technologically advanced building for cancer therapy at the First State Hospital. These plans are particularly significant as they align with Mongolia's broader healthcare strategy and Vision 2050 plan, and are expected to serve as a model for future cancer care projects in the region. Moreover, the mission serves as a scalable model for similar healthcare initiatives across the Asia and the Pacific region and the world.

Like many other countries, Mongolia faces unique healthcare challenges that demand customized, multifaceted solutions. Through the Rays of Hope initiative and this landmark mission, the IAEA is offering a targeted, systematic approach to tackling these challenges. The mission’s trilateral cooperation framework and the diverse funding possibilities discussed during the mission add layers of support and viability to these efforts and highlight the IAEA's unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable development through scientific and technological collaboration.