Building Capacity and Access

Get Involved > APSIG Volunteer Assignments and Fundraising > Asia-Pacific Elekta Prize

The Asia-Pacific Special Interest Group (APSIG) was established in 2009 by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM). APSIG’s campaigns and activities are supported by the College, the Foundation, Australian Volunteers International Development (AVID), and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Nikki Shelton assisting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Building capacity in the Asia-Pacific region

APSIG supports capacity building initiatives across the Asia Pacific region. These initiatives provide much needed assistance in countries where radiotherapy services require additional specialised training and guidance to establish an appropriate level of competency of local radiotherapy staff.

We collaborate with other professional organisations such as RANZCR and ASMIRT, and APSIG’s activities receive generous financial assistance from our industry partners Elekta, BrainLab and Gamma Gurus.

Why we need your help

Every year, half a million cancer patients in South East Asia/Pacific need radiotherapy. But there is only enough radiotherapy equipment to treat one third of these patients.

It is estimated that the region needs 1000 new treatment machines and 2000 additional medical physicists. APSIG is committed to supporting these medical physicists and other radiotherapy staff to help ensure the new treatment facilities meet current safety standards and are correctly calibrated.

The lack of radiotherapy services has a major economic impact on families and societies in the region. Access to effective cancer treatment improves patient outcomes and wellbeing and has a positive flow-on effect across the society.

Governance of the APSIG program

The Foundation and the ACPSEM have a memorandum of understanding covering the governance of APSIG and Asia-Pacific hospital activities. Professional management of these initiatives remain the responsibility of ACPSEM whilst the governance of the financial matters rests with requiring approval from the Board of the Better Healthcare Technology Foundation. Read more on the APSIG Committee, responsibilities and objectives.

Support our efforts to build quality healthcare capacity across the region.

Donate to Foundation

Or contact us at apsig@acpsem.org.au