Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 15: Brachytherapy machine, which was commissioned in Oncology Department of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu in 2007-08 to treat specific type of cancers, is lying unused for about last two years due to refusal of operating license to the department by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) as a result of which the patients suffering with such diseases are bound to go to outside State for treatment as in J&K this facility is not available in any other Government or private health institution.
According to the reliable sources in the Oncology Department of the hospital, the facility of brachytherapy was started in the department with an estimated cost of about Rs 1.5 crore. They said that brachytherapy machine is usually used to treat prostate, cervical and womb cancer. It is also used to treat other cancers such as head and neck cancers.
Sources said that though the machine is in good working condition but it is still lying unused due to the negligent attitude of the hospital authorities which failed to comply with AERB guidelines and instructions.
Elaborating more, sources said that in Oncology Department, there are presently two teletherapy machines but only one of them is functional whereas the other is about 30 years old and lying defunct and needed immediate de-commissioning. They further added that AERB wrote many times to the department of Oncology to de-commission that unused teletherapy machine which is continuously emitting radiations, which are hazardous to human health but due to want of a paltry amount of about Rs 20-30 lakh for the purpose the hospital authorities failed to comply with its repeated instructions, which irked the AERB and about two years back it refused to renew the license of the brachytherapy machine of the department.
“Since then this life saving machine is lying unused in the hospital and the cancer patients in the State have been left on the mercy of the God, as this facility is not available in any other Government or private health institution in the State”, sources said adding that in the absence of operating license of the brachytherapy machine, the doctors in the department are bound to refer the patients to PGI Chandigarh where they have to wait for about 3-6 months to get treatment.
Sources further disclosed that though the other teletherapy machine in the department is in working condition but it is quite old and needed immediate upgradation for which an amount of about Rs 50 lakh is required. They further said that if the machine is not upgraded soon, the problem may occur in near future.
Moreover, sources claimed that the sword of refusal of licence is also hanging on the existing telegraphy machine, as the license of a telegraphy machine has to be renewed after a period of 5-7 years and next time when the department applies for it, AERB may refuse to renew its license also for not de-commissioning unused source of radiation lying in the department.
When contacted, Head, Department of Oncology, GMCH Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta admitted that the brachytherapy machine is lying unused for last about two years in the absence of operating license from AERB. Dr Gupta said that he had taken up the matter of de-commissioning of unused tele therapy machine many times with the hospital administration which could not provide funds for the purpose and resultantly AERB refused to renew their operating license for brachytherapy machine. He also admitted that the existing tele therapy machine also needed immediate upgradation which if not done soon, the problem may erupt in the machine.
When contacted, Principal and Dean, GMCH Jammu, Dr Ghanshyam Dev Gupta said that we have taken up the matter with the higher authorities and are hopeful that soon special funds will be released by the Health Ministry for de-commissioning of unused teletherapy machine and upgradation of other telegraphy machine.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel