A specialised training course for Turkmen oncologists was held in Ashgabat, organised by the WHO Country Office with the support of UNDP. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal.

The training took place at the Scientific and Clinical Oncology Centre and focused on modern cancer treatment methods, including port systems and catheter chemotherapy.

Experts from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Eurasian School of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, and leading Moscow clinics participated in the course. Among them were Dr Vitaly Smelov, Dr Kirill Kirgizov, Professor Timur Valiyev and Professor Nune Matinyan.

The programme combined theory, video demonstrations from operating theatres and practical sessions covering the installation of port systems, the administration of chemotherapy and infection control measures. Updates to clinical protocols for adults and children were also discussed with a view to bringing national standards into line with WHO international recommendations as part of the GICC initiative.

The course was part of a UNDP project to strengthen Turkmenistan's health system through the procurement of medicines and medical devices to combat non-communicable diseases.