ALGIERS, Algeria, March 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR), leader in radiotherapy systems and software for the treatment of cancer, today announced the official opening of a new strategic operating entity in Algeria, providing support to customers across North Africa. The Algerian Minister of Health's chief of staff and the U.S. Chief of Mission in Algeria joined with local dignitaries and senior Varian personnel at an inauguration ceremony today to mark the launch of Varian Medical Systems Algeria SPA.

"Varian is proud to meet our commitment to the Algerian Ministry of Health and the country's clinical community by creating a strategic hub here in Algiers," said Fouad Rahal, managing director of VMS Algeria SPA. "Since we created the new entity nearly a year ago, we have established a facility and hired highly trained Algerian technical service, clinical applications, logistics and other experts to support cancer clinics here."

The new Varian facility in the Hydra district of Algiers employs 16 people and houses a training and education center, a parts depot and a service center. "This entity will provide clinics with a high level of service as well as offering educational programs to train clinicians on the use of Varian technology to deliver advanced radiotherapy for the benefit of Algerian cancer patients," added Rahal.
At today's inauguration ceremony, former Minister of Health and head of the Algeria National Cancer Plan Professor Messaoud Zitouni presented on global and regional cancer trends and discussed the importance of collaboration with Varian in helping to address a growing cancer burden.

Burt Lang, Varian's senior managing director in Africa, said, "The incidence of cancer is unfortunately growing rapidly in Africa and has become one of the continent's top healthcare concerns. Radiotherapy plays a vital and cost effective role in treating cancer and we are committed to making it available to more patients across the continent."

The first Varian linear accelerator was installed in Algeria over 20 years ago and the company now has 21 systems operating across the country. Eighteen months ago, Varian announced that it had entered into an agreement with the Algerian Ministry of Health to equip six cancer treatment centers with advanced technology for radiotherapy and radiosurgery. The first six of these systems, including advanced TrueBeam™ treatment devices, are due to be installed by the end of this year.

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