Julia and Hans Rausing together with Skåne University Hospital invest to improve breast cancer care in the region
The donation will be used to establish a physical centre on the hospital campus in Malmö and a radiation centre in Lund.
Construction on the new site at Malmö hospital campus will commence in 2024 and is expected to be open for patients in 2025.
A donation by Julia and Hans Rausing will fund a new state-of-the-art radiotherapy, MR-Linac technology in Lund, alongside a new dedicated breast cancer clinic at Malmö hospital campus. The new clinic will see all disciplines and professions involved in cancer care, from diagnosis of possible symptoms to specific treatment of the disease, brought together in one new physical centre. The new centre is expected to be completed in 2025 and is being co-funded by Julia and Hans Rausing and the Skåne Region.
As previously announced, Julia and Hans Rausing have donated approximately SEK 250 million (approximately £18.5 million) with the Skåne Region contributing approximately SEK 100 million (approximately £7.4 million).
“We are of course very pleased with the support and the public-private partnership that the donation represents. But most importantly, this investment in cancer care, with the latest advances in radiotherapy in the form of an MR-Linac, will benefit the region’s patients. From the region’s side, we are also pleased to be able to gather expertise in this important area and the possibility of future certification via the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA)”, says Carl-Johan Sonesson, regional councillor.
The investment takes place in a geography of particular importance to Julia and Hans Rausing, and is an exception to the usual UK focus of their philanthropy.
“With this donation, we want to give back to a region that has been so important to our family. Cancer is a devastating disease that affects people everywhere, and we hope this investment will improve outcomes for cancer patients in the Skåne region. We are delighted to be doing this in partnership with Skåne University Hospital and look forward to construction beginning next year,” said Hans and Julia Rausing in a joint statement.
The construction of the new buildings on the hospital site in Malmö is planned to start in 2024, with the aim of the centre becoming operational in 2025. Procurement of the MR-Linac machine will start in the autumn of 2023.
20th October 2023