Billion-rupee cancer treatment machines idle as patients face more delays

Cancer patients face further delays because two radiotherapy machines installed at Badulla and Hambantota hospitals remain unused even though they are ready to begin treatment, the Government Radiographers' Association says.

The machines could start treating patients, but services are stalled because dosimetry equipment is unavailable, the association said. The two are among five Linear Accelerator machines purchased for government hospitals after years of delays, each costing over Rs 600 million; the cost of a full radiotherapy unit at each hospital is estimated at over Rs 1 billion.

The Badulla installation was completed in April and the Hambantota installation in the first week of October, yet six months and one month later respectively, neither hospital has begun treatment. The association said dosimetry equipment could be borrowed temporarily from the national cancer hospital at Maharagama rather than waiting for new equipment.

During a recent visit to Badulla hospital, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni also instructed officials to urgently obtain equipment from Apeksha Hospital and start services, but the necessary arrangements have still not been made, the association said, noting that similar stopgap arrangements had run LINAC machines at other hospitals before.