Chennai: Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) and Ion Beam Applications (IBA), Belgium, signed an agreement to offer proton therapy training and education for clinicians in Asia and across the globe.
Apollo Hospitals acquired IBA’s Proteus PLUS proton therapy system and has been successfully treating cancer patients for over three years. Now, with this association, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre will impart knowledge through its advanced training and education programme on proton therapy to clinicians.
Announcing the partnership, Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder & Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, said, “An acute need for high quality cancer care and the increasing prevalence of cancer cases in India, was the genesis of Apollo Cancer Centres (ACC), about three decades ago. Ever since, ACC has continually introduced the finest and most advanced cancer care into India, with the most recent being, bringing in Proton Therapy into the region. Furthermore, in keeping with its resolute mission to raise the bar in cancer care for all in need, in association with IBA, the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre is becoming the first of its kind training and education programme reference centre in Asia.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer, IBA, said, “In the last years, Apollo Hospitals has shown its expertise and motivation in organising successful training symposia for local and international proton therapy experts’ community. We are looking forward to collaborating with Apollo to provide high-quality training and education to proton therapy users in Asia without them traveling to another continent.”
Dr Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, said, “With APCC becoming Asia’s first and exclusive Proton Beam Training Institute in association with IBA, it will provide valued access to clinicians across the world and also be a pivotal contributor to research in oncology and proton therapy.”
Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director & Head of Radiation Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, said, “With this collaboration, we’re providing access to clinicians, physicists and therapists from across Asia and the world to avail the opportunity for training and education on contemporary proton beam therapy practice.”