A trilateral cooperation agreement between the Koch-Mechnikov Forum (Germany), N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology (Ministry of Healthcare of RF), and OPTEC Group was signed on June 22, 2016 at the 2nd St. Petersburg Oncology Forum White Nights by Prof. Klaus-Peter Hellriegel, head of Oncology section of the Koch-Mechnikov Forum, Andrey Karitsky, the Chief Physician of the clinic in N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, and Maksym Igelnyk, Board Chairman of OPTEC Group.
The Koch-Mechnikov Forum (Germany), N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, and OPTEC confirm their commitment to cooperation and partnership in technology and education in different areas of oncology, to organization of joint events, lectures, seminars, and educational programs hosting leading Russian, German, and international experts. The participants are also planning to promote cooperation in research and development with research centers in Russia and Germany. The parties emphasize that it is important to introduce best international telemedicine technologies, teleconsultations, and distant education in oncological practice.
The German Health System has accumulated vast experience in telemedicine. The audience of the event were greeted by the Head of Oncology Section in the Koch-Mechnikov Forum, Prof. Klaus-Peter Hellriegel: «We work on different oncology projects, cooperate with many Russian centers and one of the most interesting areas is telemedicine in pathomorphology. We are happy that this project will continue to develop, including public private partnerships. Our ultimate task is to ensure high quality of life for all cancer patients and that is what we are committed to achieve via our projects and together with our partners."
Modern telemedicine technologies offer brand new opportunities for Russian clinics, institutes, and medical centers. In difficult cases, video conferencing and teleconsultations make it possible to turn to leading specialists, experts in a particular oncology area for immediate help, to quickly diagnose the case and chose the best treatment strategy. At the same time, information technologies help accumulate experience and create digital archives of clinical cases to be used both for scientific research and education in the future. «Current telecommunication technologies erase the boundaries in oncology, in oncological pathomorphology. We need new centers, which would be hubs for high-end technologies, state-of-the-art solutions, offering conditions for research at the highest possible level and for training of the next generation of pathomorphologists. I am confident that our cooperation will contribute greatly to this goal," said Andrey Karitsky, the Chief Physician of the clinic in N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology. He adds: «N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology offers modern equipment and experience to ensure effective operation of such a center."
«OPTEC and medical industry of Germany have had a history of a long-term and friendly relationship. We cooperate with many leading Russian and international scientific and medical centers. I am sure that the agreement we are signing today, the authoritative participation of the Koch-Mechnikov Forum and one of the leading research oncology centers, N. N. Petrov Research Institute, will help us bridge the health systems of Germany and Russia in oncology, will bring the best telemedicine technologies to our clinical practice," said Maksym Igelnyk, OPTEC Group.
The Koch-Mechnikov Forum operates under the authority of the German and Russian Ministries of Healthcare as part of the modernization partnership. The mission of the Forum is to contribute to the development of scientific communication in medicine and health care between Russia and Germany.
N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology is one of the largest specialized diagnostic and treatment centers in Russia, a leading oncology research institution in the Northwestern Federal District of Russia. In 1928, the Pathoanatomic Laboratory of the Institute established an archive of histologic materials, a unique biobank for scientific research in oncology, with more than 10 million items currently being on storage. In 2015, the Pathoanatomic Laboratory of the Research Institute performed histological studies for 17,500 patients from all over the Russian Federation, including about 5,000 patients who contacted the Pathoanatomic Department of the Institute for a repeated consultation on histological specimens prepared at other institutions.
