A specialized training course for oncologists was held in Ashgabat at Scientific-Clinical Oncology Center by the WHO Country Office (CO) in Turkmenistan, with support of UNDP. This initiative is designed to enhance the skills of oncologists in Turkmenistan through advanced techniques in cancer treatment, focusing on the use of port systems and catheter-based chemotherapy.

The training brought together leading oncology and anesthesiology experts from WHO/Europe, the Eurasian School of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (ESHDOG), and Europe’s largest oncology hospitals in Moscow. Among the visiting experts were Dr. Vitaly Smelov (Medical Officer on Cancer, WHO/Europe), and Dr. Kirill Kirgizov (Deputy Director for Research and Head of Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation), Prof. Timur Valiev (Professor and Pediatric Onco-Hematologist, Head of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology), and Prof. Nune Matinyan (Professor and Anesthesiologist, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care) – from ESHDOG and the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow.

The program originally included comprehensive sessions on the installation and management of port systems, catheter-based chemotherapy procedures, and infection control measures. Video demonstrations from operating rooms and wards complemented theoretical discussions, ensuring participants gained both technical proficiency and an understanding of international best practices. The training also addressed updates to clinical protocols for adult and pediatric oncology, aligning national standards with global recommendations under WHO’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC).

This event is part of a broader project aimed at strengthening Turkmenistan’s healthcare system in the framework of the project “Procurement of medicines and medical supplies through UNDP to combat noncommunicable diseases.” By improving the capacity of local specialists, WHO seeks to support the country in delivering safer, more effective cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes.