The largest associations of oncologists in Russia and Germany will cooperate in the fight against cancer

On February 20, 2020, the signing of a trilateral cooperation agreement between leading Russian and German associations of oncologists took place in Berlin at the site of the Deutscher Krebskongress 2020 German Cancer Congress.

The document was signed by the President of the Association of Oncologists of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Kaprin, Secretary General of the German Cancer Society Mr. J. Bruns, President of the R. Koch and I.I. Mechnikov Forum Mr. H. Khan and the head of the Oncology Section of the R. Koch and I.I. Mechnikov Forum K.P. Hellrigel.
This agreement is of great international importance both for the development of medical science in the fight against cancer in Russia and Germany, and for strengthening partnership relations between the two countries. The document is aimed at coordinating mutual interests in the field of higher medical education, facilitating scientific cooperation, as well as supporting the organization of advanced training courses for doctors.
According to A.D. Kaprin, the signed document will strengthen cooperation between the two countries on training Russian specialists in international programs, exchange of experience and expansion of participation of Russian cancer centers in joint international clinical trials, which are carried out thanks to such collaborations.  “Our countries have very serious medical schools. And this step, combining our efforts, is a great honor for us. We rely on the experience of our German colleagues and look forward to serious joint work,” said Andrey Kaprin.
“We already have some experience of working with Russia and are glad that thanks to the agreement, we will be able to work at almost all stages of providing assistance to cancer patients,” Mr. J. Bruns stressed.
In turn, Mr. H. Khan noted that this cooperation is based on the principles of deep respect for Russia.  “It is gratifying that we can freely work and cooperate in the field of healthcare, because in this direction we have no contradictions with our Russian colleagues, the issue of protecting the health of our fellow citizens should be out of politics. I believe in a huge potential for joint work and cooperation,” he said.
According to Mr. K.P. Hellrigel, the R. Koch and I.I. Mechnikov Forum has been establishing contacts between Russian and German doctors and scientists for a long time.   “I am sure that both sides will learn a lot of new and interesting things in this cooperation. This signing is a really important milestone in the fight against cancer.”
Also on February 20, 2020, the German-Russian initiative conference on cooperation in the field of healthcare was held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Berlin. It was organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the R. Koch and I.I. Mechnikov Forum. The event was chaired by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Kaprin and Professor V. Falk. Selected joint projects of 10 Russian and 10 German participants in such important fields as oncology, epidemiology, rehabilitation, etc. were presented at the conference. One of the key goals of the meeting was the creation of a Russian-German platform in the field of medical science and healthcare, whose participants will jointly implement projects that have already begun, as well as launch new ones.  The conference ended with the adoption of a communique, in which the Governments of both countries will be called upon to conduct more active international cooperation in the field of healthcare.

Press Service of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “NMIC of Radiology” of the Ministry of Health of Russia