SHILLONG, Oct 23: The Department of Atomic Energy-Shillong Civil Hospital cancer wing is likely to be inaugurated next month.
A senior official told The Shillong Times here on Sunday that the cancer wing is already functioning with the indoor patients’ facility on the second floor. It has a total of 43 beds and a daycare facility in the basement with 10 beds.
He said some repair work is under way for increasing the indoor bed strength to 60 or 70 depending on the accommodation capacity and the daycare bed strength to 15.
There is a plan to have 25 beds for the female oncologist ward while the remaining beds will be for the male oncologist ward, the official said.
He also said the OPD services will be shifted to the ground floor of the cancer wing from the main Civil Hospital once the repair work is completed.
Another official said that the bunkers for the radiotherapy equipment are ready for the machines to be installed.
He said the phase-wise work is being done by the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
For Phase-I, the computed tomography simulator and linear accelerator will be procured after the tendering process is completed. In Phase II, high-dose rate brachytherapy and a 2″ tele-cobalt machine will be procured, the official said.
“Simultaneously, the cancer wing is being provided with a new transformer, lift services, new centralised oxygen supply, fire safety services, CCTVs, etc. It will be a state-of-the-art facility in Meghalaya,” he said.
The official also informed they have been unable to take up new cases since October 6 for radiation treatment since the radiation safety officer (RSO) has resigned.
According to norms laid down by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, radiation treatment cannot be provided without an RSO.
The interview for the new RSO will be held on October 27.
“The problem is none from the state is qualified to be appointed as RSO. It is for this reason we have recruited people from outside the state. But they will leave as soon as they get a good offer from another institute,” the official said.
He said the state government has allocated funds for the cancer wing recently.
“The funds have helped us to almost complete the cancer wing. The state government is also providing funds for the purchase of machines and equipment,” he said.
“Initially, we had money to procure only two radiation machines. We are getting more money from the cess tax funds allocated by the state government. We are also investing in the campaign on the prevention and early detection of cancer,” the official said.
“As of now, we are detecting cases of cancer in the late stages,” he said, adding that screening people on a large scale could help reduce the cases of cancer in the next 10 years.
The official further said the Shillong Civil Hospital recently signed an agreement for cancer care with North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).
The cancer wing in NEIGRIHMS is expected to come up soon.
