CHITWAN: Malfunction of radiotherapy simulator at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur of Chitwan district has affected cancer patients adversely.
Most of the cancer survivors have been deprived of radiotherapy treatment as the simulator machine has turned kaput. The simulator is used to plan the radiotherapy before giving the treatment to patients.
Oncology Department of the hospital had issued a notice on May 21, “Planning service would be halted for the time being until new machine is installed as the existing simulator machine has stopped working.”
Even the new cancer patients have not been able to do their planning before undergoing radiotherapy treatment.
Dr Bijaya Chandra Acharya, Executive Director of the hospital, clarified the reason behind halting the planning service given to cancer patients prior to radiotherapy treatment. He said, a new planning machine would be installed as the existing machine was too old, which had been installed during the establishment of the hospital.
He further said that the new machine would be installed within the next fifteen days as it had already arrived at Birgunj Customs, and would reach here within four days.
He added that the hospital had tendered this machine three years ago at an estimated cost of Rs 100 million. “We could not acquire the machine in time due to delay in reimbursement.”
Radiation Oncology Department Chief Dr Suresh Shrestha reiterated the service had been halted temporarily for replacement of the machine. “Already planned patients have been receiving radiotherapy.”
At least 20 cancer patients visit the health facility on a daily basis for treatment and most of them require radiotherapy service.