A joint Russian and Slovak proton therapy center to aid cancer patients opened in the north Slovakian town of Ruzomberok on Tuesday.
The center, built at the Central Military Hospital, was unveiled by Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Slovak Economics Minister Lubomir Jahnatek, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
"This is a unique project. Our physicists and their Slovak colleagues in a short time period, just two years, have managed to implement a project on establishing a proton therapy center. This is the last word in the treatment of cancer patients," Shmatko said.
Proton beam cancer treatment makes it possible to target cancer cells with precise accuracy. Over 60,000 patients have received treatment in 26 proton therapy centers across the world, including the U.S., Canada and France.
"We have laid down a good foundation stone for cooperation between our countries," Shmatko said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is to arrive in the Slovakian capital later on Tuesday to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava from the Nazis by the Red Army.
During his visit, Medvedev will meet with President Ivan Gasparovic to discuss a wide range of issues including cooperation with Slovakia in the field of advanced technology.
RUZOMBEROK, April 6 (RIA Novosti)
