Every year cancer claims lives of 17,000 Kazakhstanis

ALMATY. KAZINFORM Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Kazakhstan. Every year, cancer claims the lives of nearly 17,000 people, including 42% of people of working age. As of today 146,400 people are diagnosed with cancer in Kazakhstan.

To increase life expectancy and improve people's living standards the Government of Kazakhstan adopted the four-year state-run program for the cancer care development for 2012-2016 with a budget totaling KZT 211 bln. Addressing the V congress of oncologists and radiologists of Kazakhstan, director of the Oncology and Radiology Research Institute Professor Kuanysh Nurgaziyev said that the Healthcare Ministry launched six screening programs for early cancer detection called to reduce cancer morbidity since treatment for earlier-stage cancers. The congress will end its work tomorrow.