International St. Mary's Hospital Signs MOU with Kyrgyzstan's National Center of Oncology and Hematology

"International St. Mary's Hospital, affiliated with Catholic Kwandong University, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kyrgyzstan's National Center of Oncology and Hematology to strengthen cooperation in cancer care."

International St. Mary's Hospital announced that on June 27 it visited the National Center of Oncology and Hematology in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and signed an MOU to expand medical cooperation.

The National Center of Oncology and Hematology, founded in 1959, is the first cancer-specialized research and treatment institution in Central Asia. Operating under Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Health as the country's national cancer institute, it is responsible for the treatment, research and education of cancer and blood disorders and serves as the central hub of the national cancer-care system.

The visit was arranged to expand medical cooperation between Korea and Kyrgyzstan and to build a foundation for continued exchange, with support from Cenas Medicare, an international medical cooperation agency.

The signing ceremony was attended by International St. Mary's Hospital President Ko Dong-hyun, Professor Park Min-geun of the Department of Surgery, and Professor Sung Ki-hoon of the Department of Radiation Oncology, along with Director Nurbek Bukuev and Deputy Director Almaz Babalaev of the National Center of Oncology and Hematology.

Building on the agreement, the two institutions agreed to expand cooperation in several areas, including ▲exchange of cancer treatment technology ▲medical staff training and joint education ▲joint research ▲international academic exchange ▲multidisciplinary care cooperation ▲establishing a cooperative system for the care of international patients.

During the visit, Professor Park Min-geun of the Department of Surgery performed a right hemicolectomy on a patient with advanced colorectal cancer and severe adhesions, providing live surgical training for local medical staff. Notably, this marked the first time a Korean medical team had performed cancer surgery at the institution, drawing strong interest from local physicians.

Professor Sung Ki-hoon of the Department of Radiation Oncology presented the latest treatment insights at a breast cancer multidisciplinary conference, introducing a patient-centered multidisciplinary care model and sharing clinical experience.

President Ko Dong-hyun said, "This agreement will give both institutions an opportunity to share medical capabilities and clinical experience, laying a foundation for sustainable international medical cooperation. We will continue pursuing diverse forms of cooperation to strengthen cancer-care capabilities and build a global medical network."

Director Nurbek Bukuev of the National Center of Oncology and Hematology said, "It is deeply meaningful to begin practical cooperation based on the medical system and clinical experience that International St. Mary's Hospital has built up. We hope this agreement will lead to an improvement in the level of cancer care in Kyrgyzstan."