Elekta and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) partner to improve access to cancer care in underserved countries
Dr. Laurent Leksell, Elekta’s Founder and Chairman of the Board, and IAEA’s Director General, Dr. Rafael Mariano Grossi meet in Stockholm to discuss reducing the global cancer burden
STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) and the IAEA have signed a partnership agreement to jointly pursue common interests, including making advanced cancer treatment available to more patients. The agreement was signed on Monday, August 28 at Elekta’s headquarters in Stockholm during a three-day visit to Sweden by Dr. Grossi and IAEA representatives.
The purpose of this partnership is to improve cancer treatment with the intent to close the gap in access to radiation therapy around the world. This closer collaboration will enable a continuous dialogue and knowledge sharing in the coordination and implementation of joint efforts. Specifically, it will address low- and middle-income countries and include awareness raising activities, the development of training resources, as well as the use of digital tools to improve treatment quality and facilitate research.
The organizations share a common vision with the IAEA’s Rays of Hope program and Elekta’s ACCESS 2025 strategy. Each of these supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), Indicator 3.4, to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one third.
Dr. Laurent Leksell said: “Close to 20 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year and this is expected to increase. Elekta and the IAEA have had a long-standing relationship committed to reducing this grim statistic by enhancing access to cancer care in developing countries. Together, we will be able accelerate our efforts and make a greater impact on the lives of people with cancer, especially in underserved countries.”
Dr. Rafael Mariano Grossi added: “We must all work together to tackle a growing cancer burden around the world, especially in developing countries with little or no access to essential medical services required for this disease. Under its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is intensifying its activities to bring cancer care to those that need it the most. Joining forces with key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors will help leverage our efforts and save countless lives. I am very proud that the IAEA is collaborating with Elekta in our shared aim to improve access to radiotherapy in countries where it is urgently needed.”
Under the new partnership agreement, Elekta and the IAEA are seeking to expand previous cooperation, which, to date, has included the facilitation of training as well as the provision of radiation therapy solutions, such as linear accelerators, brachytherapy treatment equipment, treatment planning workstations and related software, in several IAEA Member States.
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For further information, please contact:
Mattias Thorsson, Vice President, Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +46 70 865 8012, e-mail: Mattias.Thorsson@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
Raven Canzeri, Global Director, Media Relations
Tel: +1 770-670-2524, e-mail: Raven.Canzeri@elekta.com
Time zone: ET: Eastern Time
Fredrik Dahl, IAEA Spokesperson
Tel: +43 699 165 21275, e-mail: fredrik.dahl@IAEA.org
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
About Elekta
As a leader in precision radiation therapy, Elekta is committed to ensuring every patient has access to the best cancer care possible. We openly collaborate with customers to advance sustainable, outcome-driven and cost-efficient solutions to meet evolving patient needs, improve lives and bring hope to everyone dealing with cancer. To us, it's personal, and our global team of 4,700 employees combine passion, science, and imagination to profoundly change cancer care. We don’t just build technology, we build hope. Elekta is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with offices in more than 40 countries and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. For more information, visit elekta.com or follow @Elekta on Twitter.
About the IAEA
Widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” organization within the United Nations family, the IAEA is the international centre for cooperation in the nuclear field. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. For more information, visit IAEA.org.
