The prevalence of cancer in Russia is particularly preoccupying. According to a report of the Russian Health Ministry, in 2010 the cancer mortality rate had increased by 13.8% over the last 10 years. Furthermore, in 19 out of the 88 administrative subjects of the Russian Federation this rate is 10% higher than the average rate for the country as a whole. The morbidity rate is of 333.7 for 100’000 inhabitants. Over 2.5 million patients are registered in cancer clinics, representing 1.8% of the overall population of the country. In 60% of cases, the disease is diagnosed at stages III-IV. The economic losses due to cancer are estimated at over 90 billion roubles per year.

These figures very clearly show how urgent and necessary it is to modernize the methods for diagnosing oncological diseases in Russia.

Positron-emission tomography (PET) is at present the most advanced and complex diagnostic procedure for detecting cancer in patients at an early stage.

The geographic distribution of PET-diagnostic centres in Russia is very poor. In 2009, there were 300 positron-emission tomography centres in operation in the USA, while there were only 7 such centres in Russia.

The above-mentioned report of the Russian Health Ministry clearly indicates the need to develop a State-wide policy to support the introduction of PET-scanning on the whole territory of the Russian Federation.

Until recently (until 2009), there were only 4 PET-centres and 3 PET-scanning units in Russia. Today, 6 of the 11 PET-centres of the country are located in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, while the other centres (Khabarovsk, Chelyabinsk, etc.) cannot provide the full amount of services required.

At present, out of a 100 new patients, less than 2 undergo a PET-scan in Russia (in comparison with 27 in Western Europe and 134 in the USA). If we are to attain the level which Western Europe had reached in 2009, the total amount of PET-scans in Russia will rise to 135’000, which would require up to 70 new PET-scanners throughout the country. In order to produce a noticeable economic and social effect, a minimum of 1 PET-scanner per 1 million inhabitants is necessary.

Comparative analysis of the Russian market in comparison with other countries of the world in terms of PET-scans per new patient:

The creation of these positron-emission tomography centres represents a tremendous undertaking, which requires careful planning, the participation of many different stakeholders, the support and approval of public authorities, reliable funding as well as a detailed implementation strategy. As seen in practice worldwide, the building of one single PET centre requires an investment of at least several million dollars, which by far exceeds the initial investments needed for other cancer diagnostic methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT), which are already becoming outdated.

The State is prepared to provide wide-ranging support to the introduction of PET-scanning with the participation of private investors:

- by providing means for the diagnostic services to be paid through the Compulsory Medical Insurance System in agreement with the regional authorities

- by allotting plots of land adjacent to existing cancer clinics

- by granting federal and regional tax privileges

At present, more than 45 PET-facilities are being planned and constructed all over Russia in the framework of different State programs and public-private partnerships.

Plans for building PET-centres in Russia in 2014-2017: