Itaipu helps modernize services at Uopeccan Hospital, in Cascavel

Itaipu and the União Oeste Paranaense de Combate ao Câncer (Uopeccan) signed an agreement to purchase accessories that will update the Radiotherapy Technology Park at the institution’s Hospital in Cascavel. The objective is to improve the quality of these services for the population. The partnership is valid for one and a half years. Binacional’s investment is R$3,171,200.

Hospital apparatus. Photo: Disclosure/Uopeccan

The hospital’s current equipment in this area offers limited treatment techniques. With the acquisition of more advanced items, the estimate is to increase care to up to 500 new patients per year, reaching, in the first stage, 800 services, and, subsequently, a thousand patients per year.

“Itaipu pays special attention to public health. In this case, our support is even more relevant, because cancer is one of the diseases that kill the most in Brazil”, stated the Brazilian general director of Itaipu, Enio Verri. He cited the Oncology Observatory of the All Together Against Cancer Movement, which warned that cancer will be the main cause of deaths by 2030. This is already happening in 606 Brazilian municipalities, 83% of which are in the South and Southeast regions, according to the entity. “It is necessary to improve and modernize all care for patients with the disease,” said Verri.

The manager of the agreement for Itaipu, Waldemar Pilger, said that the partnership with Uopeccan was carefully evaluated, as it is a high investment, but that the approval took into account the severity of the disease, the good service already provided by the institution and the possibility to further increase the number of patients. “This is important for the entire West region,” he said.

Modernization

The president of Uopeccan, Leopoldo Furlan, thanked Itaipu for, once again, “embracing the hospital. We have already had many years of partnership and, this time, we are focused and committed to acquiring accessories to update our Radiotherapy Technology Park,” he stated.

He explained that the device reduces treatment time and, consequently, side effects. “In addition, we were able to be more objective, reaching only the tumor region and preserving healthy cells”, he added.

And he added: “Adding up all these points, the result is very positive. We further preserve the patient’s health, reduce their time on the machine and, with this, we can serve even more people, bringing quality of life to thousands of patients.”

Advanced techniques

The project will include the installation of a Multi-Blade Collimation System in the Unique Linear Accelerator, which allows treatment with a much more concentrated radiation dose distribution, enabling the use of techniques ranging from Conformational in 3 dimensions to IMRT and VMAT, the most advanced irradiation techniques existing in the world.

In addition, the unit will receive two linear accelerators and an imaging system to check patient positioning. For the Unique Linear Accelerator, the imaging system will be implemented using the Portal Vision accessory (with megavoltage beam), and for the Clinac iX Linear Accelerator, a cone beam tomography system (ConeBeam CT) will be installed.

With these items, the treatment will provide a greater chance of curing or controlling the disease with the lowest possible side effects.

Hospital

Founded on June 12, 1991, the Uopeccan Hospital Complex is a non-profit Philanthropic Institution, made up of three units. The unit located in Cascavel has a total area of ​​around 12 thousand m², with 137 beds (12 of them in adult and children’s ICU), five surgical rooms, full radiotherapy service and Support House. There are also units in Umuarama and Medianeira.

The units have a wide range of state-of-the-art life support equipment and a highly qualified multidisciplinary team. A reference in Paraná, they offer exclusive and specialized treatment for adult and child patients who have cancer. It also offers a Medical Residency Program in Oncological Surgery, Clinical Oncology, Medical Clinic, General Surgery, Research Center, High Complexity Services in Orthopedics and Traumatology and Bariatric Surgery, Liver, Bone Marrow and Kidney Transplantation.