Government hosp to offer safe, fast cancer therapy with CT simulator

Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) has acquired a new equipment that would allow doctors to provide more precise radiotherapy to cancer patients. Called CT simulator, it would allow radiologists to determine the exact location, shape and size of tumour to be treated and provide radiation. It would make treatment easier and faster for doctors and safer for patients, said the hospital authorities.
CMCH, the tertiary care hospital for the western region, is one among the nine government hospitals in the state to get a CT simulator. The machine, valued at Rs 2 crore, arrived at the hospital earlier this week. Authorities have begun modifying the regional cancer centre in the hospital to install the machine. “We hope to install the equipment and utilize it within two months,” said Dr B Ashokan, CMCH dean.
At least 100 cancer patients undergo treatment at CMCH, the first government hospital in the region to get a regional cancer centre, at any given point of time.
Presently, radiation therapists at the hospital do a CT scan of the patient and keep the image with them while providing radiation. “While this technique is working for us, the CT simulator, which incorporates the CT scan and cobalt machine into one equipment, will make the treatment safer and faster,” the dean said. “It becomes very critical when we treat cancer in the spine, in between vertebrae or in intestines, when even centimetre differences could mean lifelong side effects.”
Kancheepuram, Salem and Trichy are among the nine government hospitals to be sanctioned a CT simulator. Madras Medical College already has the equipment.
According to the hospital authorities, the CT simulator, which has now become part of basic radiology equipment, was sanctioned to the hospital in 2013. However, foreign companies, which could import and supply the equipment, were in two minds about bidding for the tender, as they were not willing to pay huge amounts required to participate in the process.
“Recently, the government made an exemption for foreign companies from paying huge amounts to participate in the tender. So, they participated in the tender this time and supplied the equipment to us,” an official said.