Press release

For immediate release

Cuba calls on Belgian SME in fight against cancer

Important order of immobilisation systems for radiotherapy

Antwerp, March 22, 2011 – As part of their recently launched national campaign against cancer, the Cuban authorities decided to purchase a large number of immobilisation systems from Orfit Industries, a Belgian SME based in Antwerp, world leader in its field of specialty. The systems are for use in cancer treatment by radiotherapy. The substantial order should cover the needs of each of the nine oncology centres currently in operation in Cuba for the next twelve months. Pedro Pablo San Jorge, Director of the  European Economic Policy Division with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment commented: “There is no doubt that the close cooperation of the National Oncology and Radiology Institute (NORI) with the Belgian Orfit Industries company will help Cuba in achieving its objectives with regard to its plan to fight against cancer”.

Thermoplastic(*) radiation masks immobilise and stabilise patients during recurring cancer treatment sessions. They play a vital role in radiotherapy treatment precision. Radiotherapy is the most efficient and cost-effective cancer treatment today. It is frequently applied in combination with other therapies.

The Cuban authorities, responsible for Public Health, eventually decided to cooperate with Orfit while discarding cheaper alternatives, notably from China. Cuba is extremely sensitive to the quality of health services it provides and the country has built a reputation for the competence level of its well–trained medical doctors and staff. This even though its healthcare development is often hampered by the US trade embargo.

Cuba’s preference for Orfit’s products and services does not come as a surprise to CEO Steven Cuypers. His  first contacts with Cuba date back to 2007 on the occasion of a radiotherapy congress in Europe where he met an oncologist from Havana. After establishing a number of  useful contacts in Cuba, with the support of Flanders Investment and Trade and the Cuban Health and Trade Ministries,  he really got the ball rolling in 2009:  “We were invited to present our technological know-how, our products and services at a National Conference on Cancer,” Mr. Cuypers comments,  “Already at that time, we were impressed by the clear ambition of the Cubans to become leaders in healthcare in that region of the world. It also became apparent that the Cubans were genuinely interested in the intrinsic quality of the solutions proposed by Orfit. Others may propose cheaper products, but to date, none of our competitors succeeded in matching the quality level of our product range. In addition, we constantly keep improving our products and services and we offer training programmes to therapists and medical staff free of charge.”

One of Orfit’s priorities is to meet the vital need for highly reliable immobilisation and stabilisation systems guaranteeing maximum precision in treating patients who are exposed to series of sophisticated cancer treatments by radiotherapy. To this end, Orfit Industries has developed a whole spectrum of thermoplastic masks ensuring high precision immobilisation and maximum comfort. The highest degree of immobilisation is vital to avoid the destruction of healthy tissue by radiation.

The Cuban order comes soon after Orfit’s announcement that it intends to enter the Latin-American markets. Today, the company which already exports to some 73 countries worldwide, is highly aware of the South American region’s growth potential.

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