On 6 to 7 February 2012 the Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova Mr Gheorghe Ţurcanu, and the Director of the Moldova Oncology Institute Mr Victor Cernat opened the WHO–IAEA workshop on national comprehensive cancer control in the Republic of Moldova. On the first day, representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Oncology Institute and the National Health Insurance Company provided an overview of policies, strategies and programmes in the area of cancer control in the Republic of Moldova.
In Moldova, 10% of all deaths are attributed to cancer. National authorities have been working to address cancer risk factors, such as tobacco, alcohol use and dietary deficiencies, but nevertheless, by 2030 WHO estimates that over 10 000 Moldovans will be diagnosed with cancer every year.
The workshop convened more than 115 Moldovan cancer control professionals, including senior government officials, public health specialists and Chisinau-based and district oncologists. This was a unique opportunity for the various Moldovan health sector institutions and professionals to exchange cancer control perspectives and approaches facilitated by WHO, IAEA and theInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) experts. The workshop conclusions will serve the Moldovan health authorities in the development of the 2012-2016 National Cancer Control Programme and action plan.
Funding for the Cancer Control Workshop in Moldova was generously provided by the Czech Republic, which has also supported radiation medicine development in Moldova through the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programme.