NMRRC DELEGATION IN THE LPR: DEVELOPING ONCOLOGICAL CARE AND NEW PROSPECTS

Last week, the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) welcomed a delegation from the National Medical Research Radiological Centre (NMRRC), led by the Chief Oncologist of the Russian Ministry of Health, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Kaprin.

During the visit, specialists assessed the current state of the Lugansk Republican Oncology Dispensary, discussed urgent tasks, and outlined possible solutions. However, the highlight of the trip was a unique surgical procedure performed by Andrey Kaprin together with Valery Korotkov, Head of the Department of Surgical and Conservative Treatment of Radiation Injuries. The specialists carried out a pelvic exenteration—one of the most complex surgical interventions, which allows for the removal of a tumor in a single block. Such procedures are rare, even in major medical centers, but thanks to the federal project “Development of the National Medical Research Centre Network and Implementation of Innovative Technologies in Healthcare,” new opportunities for surgical care have become available to patients in Lugansk in 2024.

Significant advancements have also been made in radiation therapy. Since April 2024, two new TERABALT-100 gamma therapy devices have been operational at the oncology dispensary. Their introduction has significantly reduced patients’ hospital stay, minimized treatment side effects, and enabled the use of advanced remote radiation therapy techniques.

Another key milestone is the development of telemedicine. Lugansk doctors can now consult with leading Russian specialists on complex clinical cases, rare malignant tumors, and their complications.

NMRRC experts are assisting Lugansk not only with medical practice but also with regulatory and legal aspects. This includes drug and equipment procurement, construction and renovation of medical facilities, transitioning documentation to Russian standards, and improving laboratory and diagnostic departments. Additionally, retraining and advanced training programs for Lugansk specialists have been launched—another crucial step toward building a modern healthcare system.

As a result of the visit, a strategically important decision was made: a new radiotherapy building will be constructed in Lugansk. This project was approved at the final meeting, attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Health Andrey Plutnitsky, RAS Academician Andrey Kaprin, Head of the Center for Coordination of Regional Oncology and Radiology Institutions Zhanna Khailova, NMRRC Deputy Director for Administrative and Economic Affairs Zurab Margiani, LPR Minister of Health Natalia Pashchenko, and Chief Physician of the Lugansk Republican Oncology Dispensary Olga Ryabtseva.

Summing up the visit, Andrey Kaprin emphasized the scale of the work ahead but highlighted the most crucial factor—the trust of the people and the support of LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik. “The most important thing is that they believe in us. Restoring the entire oncology care system in these territories will not be easy, but both officials and ordinary people are counting on us. That’s why we will do everything to ensure that cancer diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation in the LPR meet the standards of the entire Russian healthcare system as soon as possible,” the academician stressed.