Govt hospitals lack essential facilities for cancer treatment

Prateek Chauhan

Tribune News Service 

New Delhi, October 17

Even though the cases of cancer patients are increasing in the city, basic amenities are not available in government hospitals - Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) and Lady Harding Medical College - where treatment to cancer patients are provided, sources said.

Safdarjung has three radio therapy machines but they have been out of order for a long time, the sources said. 

Besides, posts of physiotherapist are lying vacant. As far as radio therapy is concerned, this department is almost closed though without radio therapy treatment for cancer is not possible. In Delhi, apart from AIIMS, only three government hospitals - Safdurjung, Lok Nayak and Delhi State Cancer Institute have radiation therapy (Radio Therapy) facility. 

According to the sources, in RML, chemotherapy is given to patients. Operation facility is also available there. However, there is no radio therapy machine in the RML. There are three machines, but they are out of order. 

The Lady Harding Medical College has doctors for radio therapy available but there is no machine. 

A senior doctor in Safdarjung Hospital on condition of anonymity told The Tribune, "The main problem in hospital is non-availability of physio. Leaving apart AIIMS, all government hospitals are struggling with the crisis. To become a cancer therapist, Postgraduation in science with one year Radio Therapy diploma is a must. The post of radio therapist is important because therapy machine licence can't be renewed without a therapist." 

In Safdurjung Hospital also, three to four posts of Radio Therapist are lying vacant. The Health Ministry was informed of it, but nothing has been done so far.