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Our interviewee is oncologist, MD-PhD, Head of Oncological Service of Nairi medical center, Levon Badalyan.

What is so different about the Service?
- The main advantage of our service is that we strive to organize the work as much as possible in accordance with European and American international standards, which is not easy to do in the conditions of our country. The Oncology Service was established at NAIRI about eight years ago, when the Department of Chemotherapy was established by French-Armenian doctor Gevorg Abgaryan, where the Western methodology was introduced from the very beginning.

- What kind of innovative technologies and methods are used in the service?
The most important thing in methodology is to follow the international guidelines. These guidelines are written and updated by international oncology associations and organizations several times per year, in which is detailed how to diagnose and treat the cancer of this or that organ, also reflected modern international experience.

- How is organized the care of the patient in the department?
Patients' care is provided by the principle of "The Patients are first". He/she should be satisfied with the provided services. From a medical point of view the loss of time is minimized. We work without taking unnecessary steps: correct researches, meetings with the appropriate professionals. In oncology, the importance of time is enormous, therefore, we try to distribute the work so that each employee could clearly perform his function. This is a beneficial process for both the doctor and the patient.

- How is the Service is equipped?
Nairi MC is, in fact, equipped with the most modern diagnostic devices, which "cover" almost all types of cancer diagnoses. The clinic uses the best and the most modern devices that satisfy the requirements of oncologists and meet the international standards. Those are the same devices that are used in the best medical centers abroad. Regarding the devices used for treatment and particularly those for chemotherapy, all modern devices are available. I would like to note that besides the technical equipment, in order to achieve a good result, it is necessary to have appropriate high-level specialists: only due to the harmonious combination of these two factors a high result can be obtained.

- How is organized the activity of the oncology multidisciplinary team?
The foreign model of the work is based on the principle of close cooperation between different specialists, since the cancer is not considered as a single organ disease. Cancer patient should not be treated only by one specialist, and several diagnostic specialists and treating doctors should be involved. There are three main directions: surgical, medicinal and radiation. These three therapeutic branches must cooperate with each other in order to determine the treatment method. In case of diagnostics as well, there are different methods that must work together correctly: radiology and laboratory services. The best option for the cooperation that we have invested and have been gradually developing in "Nairi" MC is so-called multidisciplinary one. We have a organized team with specific specialists who express their views during the doctors’ conference, and a comprehensive discussion take place.

I should mention that the team includes not only the specialists of our clinic, but also, if necessary, the specialists of other clinics. And the extraordinary difficult cases are also discussed with our foreign partners. They respond to us in a matter of days. We cooperate with the best specialists for the benefit of the patient. In this context, I would like to note that our specialists, including me, are constantly undergoing training abroad, since it is very important to exchange practical experience and information. Let's not forget that oncology is the most rapidly developing field of medicine, the medicine and disease seem to compete with each other and medicine tries not to lag behind in its functions.