Indore Cancer Hospital’s Cobalt Machine Malfunctions, Causing Patient Anxiety and DelaysIndore Cancer Hospital’s Cobalt Machine Malfunctions, Causing Patient Anxiety and Delays Indore, Madhya Pradesh – A critical cobalt machine at the state’s lone Government Cancer Hospital has been out of commission for three days, causing immense distress to patients who depend on it for life-saving treatment. The 105-bed hospital serves a vast region, providing specialized cancer care to patients from Indore and nearby districts. However, the absence of this crucial radiotherapy machine has disrupted treatment schedules, forcing some patients to consider expensive private alternatives or return home without vital therapy. The annual maintenance contract for the hospital’s machinery is handled by a private company. Despite the company’s quick response, technical difficulties have identified three faulty parts, resulting in an estimated repair cost of Rs 11 lakh. Unfortunately, payment issues have stalled the repair process, leaving the machine idle as of Friday evening. The disruption has left over 100 patients without access to essential radiotherapy. “We travel for hours to get treatment, but the machine is not working,” lamented a concerned patient. “We’re forced to either seek private care or go back home untreated.” The hospital management has reportedly notified the relevant authorities about the issue. A radiologist, Dr. OP Gurjar, expressed hope that the machine would be operational within a few days. The delay in repairs and the subsequent disruption in patient care have added to the anxiety and burden faced by cancer patients and their families.
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The cobalt machine at the state’s only Government Cancer Hospital has been non-functional for the past three days, causing significant stress to patients who rely on it for their treatment. The outage has particularly affected patients travelling from different parts of the state, forcing many to seek expensive private alternatives or return home without receiving the required therapy.
The 105-bed government cancer hospital in Indore not only serves the local branch but also patients from neighbouring regions. The annual maintenance contract for all the hospital machinery, including the crucial cancer radiotherapy machine, is managed by a private company.
Many patients who arrived for radiotherapy expressed their frustration, saying: “We travel long distances for treatment, but find that the machine does not work. Without therapy, we either have to seek private treatment or, if we do not have the financial resources, go to hospital untreated return home.” More than 100 patients are being deprived of essential radiotherapy due to the disruption. The maintenance company, which has sent technicians from Delhi and Mumbai, has identified three faulty parts in the machine. The estimated cost for replacement is Rs11 lakh.
However, unresolved payment issues have delayed repairs, meaning the machine will no longer work as of late Friday evening. Meanwhile, Dr. OP Gurjar, radiologist, that the hospital management has reported the problem to the relevant authorities and the maintenance company is working on the repair. “The machine will probably start in a few days,” he said.
Published: Sunday, June 30, 2024 08:15 IST
