Kidwai to get 4 more radiation equipment

The Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology is all set to add four more linear accelerators to improve patient care. The state-run hospital has bought the accelerators with the Rs 120-crore fund it received to upgrade as the State Cancer Institute.

For patients undergoing radiotherapy, the hospital already has three linear accelerators. Line accelerators help direct high energy X-rays to a targeted area (tumour) and destroy malignant cells in the body.

Out of Rs 120 crore sanctioned to the hospital — with Rs 30 crore from the state government — the hospital’s primary focus is on improving the radiation wing.

The head of radiation oncology, Dr Lokesh V, said about 70% of the sanctioned amount was being used for this. Some of the new machines are already put to use as part of the State Cancer Institute Block to be formally inaugurated by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on June 28.

K B Linge Gowda, Director, Kidwai, said the new linear accelerators would cut short the waiting period for patients. Currently, patients wait for a minimum of one-and-a-half months for their turn to undergo radiotherapy. Dr Gowda said they intend to achieve a zero waiting period for patients with the new facility.

Creating a centre to instal the accelerators involves an elaborate process.

Permission is sought from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. “It takes over a year just for bunker construction to ensure that there is
no risk of the radiation emission outside the treatment room,” said Dr M Ravikumar, head of the department, Radiation Physics.