Health Ministry Pledges to Build 131 Cancer Diagnostic Centres Nationwide

These diagnostic centres will also provide the patients with primary treatments, ISNA news agency quoted Iraj Harirchi as saying.

He went on to say that “Building such centres is considerably costly, and to finance such projects we need to raise funds from other ministries, NGOs and overseas resources.”

“In line with fundraising efforts, we are planning on signing contracts with the Defence Ministry and other non-governmental companies to take a step forward in setting up such centres.”

Although cancer is becoming more prevalent in Iran, as in other countries, people who believe that Iran is facing a cancer tsunami are wrong, he stressed.

80% of the leading causes of deaths in Iran are non-communicable disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, and cancers, the spokesman said, adding that healthy diets, getting enough exercise and regular checkups can help minimize the possibility of developing such diseases.

One of the key measures adopted by the Health Ministry to fight cancer is screening patients for breast and colon cancers, he noted, stating that early diagnosis of cancer can increase the chances of recovering from it and responding better to treatment.