Linear Accelerator Arrives at GMCH After Seven-Year Delay
Govt Medical College and Hospital in Nagpur set to receive a long-awaited linear accelerator for cancer treatment.
The linear accelerator is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on November 3.
A power connection costing ₹2.75 crore is needed before the machine can operate.
Cancer patients have relied on outdated equipment for nearly two decades.
After a prolonged wait of seven years, the Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur is on the verge of receiving a linear accelerator, a crucial piece of equipment for the radiation treatment of cancer patients. The machine is expected to arrive in Mumbai on November 3, with plans for its transportation to Nagpur in the second week of November.
The establishment of a three-storey cancer hospital on the GMCH campus has been a significant development, aimed at enhancing cancer care in the region. This facility is designed to accommodate advanced medical equipment, including MRI and PET-CT scanners. However, a major hurdle remains: the linear accelerator requires a power supply of approximately 1 megavolt-ampere (MVA), and the necessary funding for this connection has yet to be approved.
The GMCH administration is currently seeking around ₹2.75 crore to secure the power connection. Officials express concerns that without timely funding and completion of the required work, the linear accelerator may remain idle even after its installation. For years, cancer patients at GMCH have had to rely on a nearly 20-year-old cobalt machine for radiation therapy, highlighting the urgent need for modern equipment.
The issue of inadequate cancer treatment facilities in government medical colleges across Vidarbha was raised during a public interest litigation hearing at the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. Following the court's directives, the procurement process for the linear accelerator gained momentum, culminating in the anticipated arrival of the machine next month. This development could significantly improve access to modern radiation therapy for cancer patients at the government hospital.
Looking ahead, the timely installation of the power connection will be critical to ensure that the linear accelerator becomes operational. As the healthcare community and patients await the arrival of this essential equipment, the focus will remain on securing the necessary funds to avoid further delays in providing advanced cancer treatment in Nagpur.
