Another highlight for PACT was the successful negotiation of the terms of a tripartite agreement for the donation by India of a Bhabhatron II Teletherapy machine to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. India is donating the machine in support of the PACT initiative to implement a comprehensive cancer control programme in Vietnam. Vietnam was launched as one of PACT's six Model Demonstration Sites (PMDS) in August 2007. The Bhabhatron unit is destined for the cancer therapy unit at Vietnam's Can Tho General Hospital. The government of India will provide further support in the commissioning, maintenance, and training in its use.
At a signing ceremony to mark the finalization of the terms of the agreement, which was also attended by Le Dinh Tien, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Science and Technology and Vuong Huu Tan, Chairman of Vietnam's Atomic Energy Commission, in addition to IAEA/PACT officials, Amil Kakodkar, Secretary of India's Department of Atomic Energy, said: “With medical equipment becoming more sophisticated and more expensive, it is impossible for poorer countries to finance the medical technology they need. It is of particular pleasure to us that this machine, developed using Indian expertise, is going to Vietnam. It strengthens our historical ties and cooperation.”
Earlier in the week, a delegation from the Republic of Korea presented PACT with a small but significant donation: US $10,000 gathered entirely by voluntary contribution from private individuals.
According to Massoud Samiei, Head of the PACT Programme office, Member States have donated more than US $3 million to the PACT initiative since the General Conference of 2006. A further US $50,000 has been collected through the recently-installed “DONATE NOW” option on the PACT website. “We're delighted at the many expressions of recognition and support that PACT has received from Member States at this year's General Conference,” said Dr. Samiei.
