According to Miklós Kásler, Hungarian children can receive the compulsory vaccination in the world
Miklós Kásler, the Minister of Human Resources, said at a press conference on the occasion of World Cancer Day that circulatory diseases account for half of all deaths in Hungary and cancer for 26 per cent. In addition to the description of the oncological developments, the Minister also covered the vaccinations of Hungarian children.
Tumor prevention – Screening is important
Hungary has a long tradition of oncology research, diagnostics, therapy and epidemiological data collection, and in 1993, at the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), Hungary was the first European Cancer Control Program to be compiled. This program is constantly being renewed and in 2018 became a government program.
Miklós Kásler mentioned that the program covers the prevention, screening, early diagnosis, therapy and rehabilitation of the disease. The minister mentioned nutrition, environmental effects, alcohol and the harmful effects of smoking among primary prevention. As he said, cervical cancer screening began in 1993, followed by breast screening in 2002, and colon cancer screening at the population level in 2018. He commented on the screenings, but their effectiveness depends largely on the participation rate of the population.
Mandatory vaccination of children
In connection with this, he said that vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) was started in 2014 for 7th grade girls and boys in the last school year. Eighty percent of girls in this age group and 66 percent of boys received this optional but mandatory vaccination. Miklós Kásler also pointed out that Hungary is a “world power” among vaccinations, as there are no thirteen compulsory vaccinations anywhere else in the vaccination line, and the vaccination rate is 98-99%.
Another step forward in prevention has been the launch of the Three Generations for Health program, which also focuses on prevention, including childhood obesity, smoking prevention and increasing participation in screening. The program has so far provided HUF 11 billion to 143 practice communities.
Oncology centers nationwide
The minister also spoke about a number of advances in the diagnosis and therapy of tumors. The structure of oncology care has been established, headquartered by the National Institute of Oncology (OOI), with four regional centers and their associated county hospital oncology departments. He noted that he hopes the oncology center of the Salgótarján hospital will be handed over within a week, which will complete the system.
The OOI is one of the 18 freely accredited European institutes, creating an opportunity for the establishment of the Central and Eastern European Academy of Oncology on the initiative of Hungary, with the participation of twenty-one countries.
Advances in the therapy of cancer patients
Among the oncological surgeries, the Minister emphasized that the first robotic surgery had been examined in Hungary as well. He also reported that a number of new drug therapies have emerged in the care, with support for hundreds of drugs provided, in addition to traditional chemotherapy, through other targeted therapies through immuno-oncology drugs.
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Miklós Kásler emphasized that the development of oncology in Hungary is unbroken, the Hungarian radiotherapy park is modern and the National Institute of Oncology has so far increased its value by HUF 3.8 billion with one thousand modern medical technology devices.