ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES RELEASE OF 50.6 MILLION LOAN TO ISOTOPES PRODUCING COMPANY
/ARKA/
MAY 20, 2011
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, May 20, /ARKA/. The Armenian government approved today release
of a budget 50.6 million drams loan (about $137,000) to isotopes
producing company as part of a plan to construct the Armenian cancer
treatment center.
Economy minister Tigarn Davtian said to a Cabinet session that
the funds will be channelled into construction of the building and
preparation of construction documents. He said the loan is provided
at LIBOR+4% interest rate with a grace period until 2015.
The Armenian cancer treatment center is a joint program of the
ministries of health and economy and the National Competitiveness Fund
of Armenia. In 2010 November an agreement was signed with the Belgian
company IBA Molecular to acquire a proton accelerator Cyclone 18/18,
worth $5 million. The total cost of the program is $30 million.
The cyclotron radionuclide accelerator will be used for producing
isotopes as part of the project worked out by Yerevan Institute of
Physics, for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. According to
the health ministry, 30,000 people suffer from cancer and their number
grows by 3 percent every year. Authorities say the cost of treatment
at the center will be affordable and may be around $1000. According to
Armenian health ministry, about 600 Armenians with cancer are being
treated abroad every year, but their real number is believed to be
much higher. ($1 ~V 374.62 drams ). –