​MedLife, the largest private healthcare network in Romania, is celebrating one year since the launch of the first and only nationwide free genetic testing program for children with cancer in Romania, thanks to a special event held today at the Fundeni Clinical Hospital. Institute. As part of it, multiple European and world swimming champion David Popovich presented the first 20 gold bows, a symbol of the fight against childhood cancer, to children who defeated this cruel disease, becoming Champions of Hope. The ribbons donated today are just some of the 100 pieces made from the medal that David Popovich won last year in the men’s 200m freestyle at the World Championships in Budapest and which he donated to MedLife’s program known as #HopeNuMoareDeCancer. Another 80 bows, displayed today on the panel at the Clinical Institute of Fundeni, await their champions.

• MedLife is celebrating one year since it developed the nation’s first and only free genetic testing program to improve treatment outcomes for children newly diagnosed with cancer;
• More than 250 children recently diagnosed with cancer have been enrolled in the #SperanțaNuMoareDeCancer program, representing more than half of the total number of children diagnosed with cancer annually in Romania;
• A supporter of the MedLife program since its inception, David Popovici donated a Soul Medal a few months ago as a sign of hope for children with cancer;
• A panel of 100 gold bows from the David Popovich Medal was displayed by MedLife at the Fundeny Clinical Institute to be presented to those who overcome a cruel disease;
• David Popovichi visited children with cancer who are hospitalized at the Fundene Clinical Institute and presented the first 20 gold bows to the children who survived the fight against this disease, becoming Champions of Hope.
• #SperanțaNuMoareDeCancer is a program developed entirely with MedLife’s own funds. Registration in the program is still free if you fill in the form and download the medical record of each patient at www.medlife.ro/speranta-nu-moare-de-cancer.

“I am the champion, but that’s only because I managed to touch the wall faster than others. I’m a fast swimmer, but I feel it’s my duty, like everyone else’s, to help others whenever possible. It is important to have as much funding as possible for programs like the one MedLife has started. They have taken the first step, and I believe that the state should also be more actively involved as the main financier,” he said. Davyd Popovychchampion swimmer and Ambassador of Hope for MedLife’s genetic testing program.

David Popovici’s gesture is in support of the #SperanțaNuMoareDeCancer program launched by MedLife, which a year after its launch has reached approximately half of the estimated number of children diagnosed with cancer each year. Under the program, pediatric patients newly diagnosed with cancer benefit from one of the world’s most sophisticated cancer sequencing tests, which analyzes mutations in 523 genes associated with several types of cancer. Based on the results of the tests, oncologists can choose the most suitable methods of treatment and therapy for each patient, depending on the mutational profile of the tumor.

“Any champion should have a team that will take care of him and treat him. MedLife’s role, through this free genetic testing program for children newly diagnosed with cancer, is to help pediatric oncologists, in this case the team at Fundeni Clinical Institute, get all the information they need, such as patient prognosis, tumor profile, to ensure the most appropriate targeted treatment. We all want one thing: for patients to be cured and finally become champions of hope,” he said Dumitru Zhardanbiologist and head of the MedLife Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology.

MedLife’s free genetic testing program for children newly diagnosed with cancer works with the majority of pediatric oncologists in the country, and most of the samples were sent by the Fundeni Clinical Institute. Professor Dr. Anka Kolice emphasizes the importance of correctly assessing the severity of the disease in order to offer patients the optimal chance for individualized treatment.

“Genomic diagnostics means that we know the enemy, that we manage to know better what are the features of the enemy that we have to defeat, and this is extremely important in the fight against cancer. We have many patients who are doing well. For many of them, we would have chosen a different treatment if it weren’t for these genetic tests provided by MedLife. The kids here today (no: who got the golden bows from David Popovich) won a lot of medals because every day was a battle they won,” he said. Prof. DrAnka Kolita, manager of the Fundeni Clinical Institute and president of the Romanian Pediatric Oncohematological Society.

Children who have recently been diagnosed with cancer can still be registered in the #SperanțaNuMoareDeCancer program by a parent, legal guardian or attending physician by filling out the form and uploading the medical record on the page: https://www.medlife. ro/speranta-nu -dying of cancer.

#SperanțaNuMoareDeCancer is a national program fully funded by MedLife. Genetic testing is offered free of charge to children who have recently been diagnosed with cancer, according to the terms and conditions listed on the program page.

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About the MedLife medical system

MedLife medical system was founded almost three decades ago, successfully developed and became the largest provider of private medical services in Romania. The Romanian entrepreneurs who laid the foundations of this company invested and participated in the changes in the Romanian healthcare system, believed in innovation and dared to reach the highest possible goals to offer Romanian patients quality, professionalism, care and respect for them. need.

The company manages the most extensive network of clinics, one of the largest networks of medical laboratories, general and specialized hospitals and has the largest base of corporate clients of Health Prevention Packages in the country. In terms of sales, it is also one of the largest private healthcare players in Central and Eastern Europe.

MedLife Group has a successful track record of both organic growth and acquisition growth. Its strong and experienced management team has been able to create and manage these growth opportunities, gaining valuable knowledge and experience to enable it to find the best path for continued successful expansion.

Being a Romanian company with traditions, MedLife chose to list on the Romanian Stock Exchange, being a model of listing on the local capital market. He opened up horizons, and thanks to the corporate governance he introduced, he inspired other local companies to follow this path and help the development of Romanian capital and economy. The shares issued by MedLife SA are admitted to trading on the regulated spot market administered by the Bucharest Stock Exchange, premium category, with the trading symbol ″M″.

During the pandemic, MedLife managed to play an important role in society and gain leadership status in monitoring the pandemic through active participation in the research field. The company continues to invest in technology and infrastructure projects that impact the local community. It creates jobs and develops an ecosystem that contributes to the development and maintenance of a healthy Romania.

Article supported by MedLife