Radiation unit hit by snags, patients suffer
The radiation machines at the BRA Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital in All India Institute of Medical Sciences are out of order from the past eleven days and the poor patients are having a harrowing time since.
The AIIMS charges `750 for one sitting of radiation while private hospitals charge over `15,000 for the same. Radiation is given to cancer patients who have had surgery so that the remnants of cancer cells are destroyed completely and the disease does not recur. In case the radiation therapy is delayed, the cancer tissues become active again.
A doctor, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that one unit of radiation therapy has been closed as the machines are out of order.
The patients are having a difficult time in the cold weather. “I am bringing my father daily in the hope that today the machines will function. But when I come here it’s the same state of affairs. The officials assure that they will inform us over the phone which is next to impossible,” said Raju, son of Jiledar Yadav.
“It takes three to four months to get a date. When one comes for radiation therapy, either the machine is out of order or the officials are not available. Where do we poor people go?,” said Jyotirmayee, a patient.
The administration also held a meeting and discussed the matter. The top officials of the hospital raised the issue of patients not being given appointment promptly. Despite repeated attempts, the dean, Dr G.K. Rath could not be contacted.
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