An ultramodern oncological bunker, built 12 meters underground, was created at the Bucharest University Hospital. The center, unique in the public system for stereotactic radiotherapy, will become functional in approximately two months, after the authorization of the equipment.
The investment amounts to 70 million lei, of which 50 are invested in medical equipment, and 20 are investments in infrastructure, informed the director of the medical unit, Prof. Dr. Cătălin Cîrstoiu.
“It’s a day when, practically, I cry with one eye and laugh with the other, and I’ll tell you why. Practically, the first attempt to build a radiotherapy center at the University Hospital began many years ago, namely in 2012 (…) Now we are minus 12 meters above the ground. Basically, at this level, we are in water, because during all this time, thanks to the subway development works, many rheological changes of Dâmboviţi, so the course changed, there were a lot of technical challenges”said Cătălin Cîrstoiu, quoted by News.ro.
He specified that it is a unique construction, due to the fact that everything that means water is pumped and creates the hospital’s water reserve, being practically the first hospital to have its own water reserve.
“Romania is the first country that is in the statistics due to cervical cancer induced by HPV and, if we think about it, while I was talking, probably every two minutes a woman dies because she has such a pathology. This is where the necessity comes from.”added Cîrstoiu.
He also explained that the center will be operational after the authorization of the equipment, that is, in about two months.
The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, was also present at the event. According to him, “state-of-the-art radiotherapy requires rigorous radiological protection, structural stability and the integration of investigations with treatment planning”.
Facebook source / Alexandru Rogobete
“That’s why this bunker was purpose-built: walls and floors up to 2 meters thick, full shielding, water table operation and separate circuits for patients, staff and equipment. The center is fully equipped for radiotherapy and brachytherapy, with a CT and MRI simulator dedicated exclusively to oncology, day hospital spaces and medical circuits built around the patient. MRI and CT are already integrated into the medical record, and accelerators are in the stage CNCAN calibration and certification final”the minister said.
He emphasized that it is the only public center in the country that will perform stereotactic radiotherapy and stated that the investment, worth 77 million lei, is made from the state budget.
“I congratulate the manager, Prof. Dr. Cătălin Cîrstoiu, as well as the entire team of the hospital – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, specialists, engineers and technical teams – for the sustained effort, rigor and professionalism that made it possible to complete this project”Rogobete also transmitted.
