“Oncopatrul” in Ivanovo: A Dialogue Between Authorities, Doctors, and Society on the Future of Oncology Care

The third and final day of the All-Russian project “Oncopatrul” in the Ivanovo region was dedicated to strategic decisions and summarizing results. The key event of the day was the Grand Civic Dialogue titled “Raising Oncological Awareness and Countering the Oncological Threat in Russia,” held at the Ivanovo Regional Duma. Participants included Russia’s Chief Oncologist, Academician Andrey Kaprin, Chair of the Ivanovo Regional Duma Marina Dmitrieva, Mayor of Ivanovo Alexander Shabotinsky, representatives of the Regional Health Department and the Territorial Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, as well as deputies and executives from the region’s largest enterprises.

Opening the discussion, Marina Dmitrieva emphasized that the event unites civil society in the fight against cancer and promotes oncological literacy among the population. “The issue of countering the oncological threat concerns everyone, not only from a medical standpoint but also psychologically. That’s why we called our event a ‘civic dialogue’—because it is crucial to understand how each person can take care of their health, how to prevent cancer, and how to detect it early. This is a shared responsibility of individuals, all branches of government, and society as a whole,” she stated.

Academician Andrey Kaprin highlighted that the regional leadership is actively engaged in cancer prevention and treatment efforts. He spoke about his meeting with Governor Stanislav Voskresensky, where they discussed the future development of the region’s oncology services. “The peak incidence of cancer occurs in the 65-75 age group. However, given the state’s strategic goal of increasing life expectancy to 80 years, the burden on oncology services will continue to grow. This calls for new solutions, strengthening the workforce, and modernizing medical infrastructure,” Russia’s Chief Oncologist noted.

The “Oncopatrul” project concluded with a formal event at the “Solaris” Center for the Identification and Support of Gifted Children, where the project’s achievements in the region were summarized, and the initiative was passed on. In April, a team of leading specialists from the National Medical Research Radiological Centre will head to Penza to once again unite doctors, the public, and authorities in the fight against cancer.