Download PRESS RELEASE

Ramallah, 1. Dezember 2005
Ref.: Pr 15/2005
Germany helps Palestinian cancer patients:
2 Mio. USD for First Radiation Oncology Unit
Opening Ceremony on Sunday, 4 December 2005, 17.00 o’clock
Germany supported the First Radiation Oncology Unit for Palestinians with close to 2 million
dollars. The money was used to purchase a linear accelerator that is at the heart of the Cancer
Centre at the Augusta Viktoria Hospital in East-Jerusalem.
The Cancer Center is now staffed by 4 senior doctors, 2 doctors in training, 2 medical
physicists, 3 therapists, 4 nurses, one social worker, and an administrative assistant, all of
them Palestinians. The unit has a simulation room, the linear accelerator, physics lab, mold
room and all the basic computer and quality assurance software. The hospital has four main
cancer services: radiation treatment, chemotherapy treatment, surgical services, and pediatric
hematology / oncology services.
Actual patient treatment in radiation started August, pediatric services already in June 2005.
Since the opening, the PA has stopped referring outside the country all cases that can be
treated at Augusta Viktoria Hospital. Already over 50 patients have been successfully treated
in radiation and the average daily is at 6 cases a day. In the future, the Augusta Viktoria
Hospital expects to do at least 10-15 per shift (three shifts a day).
With a total number of 500 beds, a staff of over 1.000 employees and a total operating budget
of over USD 40 million annually, the Augusta Viktoria Hospital is one of the six NGO
hospitals in East Jerusalem that offer specialised services for the Palestinan population,
presenting an essential complement to the the system run by the Palestinian Ministry of
Health.
The press is cordially invited to attend the opening ceremony on Sunday, 4 November 2005,
17.00 o’clock at at the Festival Hall in the Augusta Viktoria Hospital.
For further information, please contact:
Alexander Eberl, Press Officer
Tel: +972-2-2984788
Fax: +972-2-2984786
Mobil +972-5-77206891
[email protected]