In a major boost to cancer care services in Punjab, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC), Punjab, a unit of Tata Memorial Centre under the Government of India’s Department of Atomic Energy, has updated its radiotherapy facilities at its Sangrur unit with the successful loading of a new Cobalt-60 source in its teletherapy machine BHABHATRON (BH-II).
The update is expected to enhance treatment capacity, improve efficiency, and significantly reduce waiting time for cancer patients requiring radiation therapy. With the new update,we can now treat approximately 65 patients per day, depending on treatment protocols and machine scheduling.
Earlier, the machine could accommodate only 15-20 patients daily, resulting in waiting periods of up to six to eight weeks for many patients. Director, HBCHRC Punjab, Dr Ashish Gulia, said that the development marks an important step towards ensuring timely and accessible cancer treatment for patients in the region.
"The successful commissioning of the new Cobalt-60 source significantly strengthens our radiotherapy services at Sangrur hospital. With the updated machine, we will be able to deliver treatment more efficiently through an improved dose rate, while considerably reducing waiting time for patients.
The waiting period is expected to come down from six to eight weeks to approximately four weeks. Most importantly, patients will be able to receive quality radiation treatment closer to their homes, without the need to travel to distant cities," he said.
Dr Gulia added that the enhanced facility would benefit a larger number of patients every day."Currently, around 100 cancer patients receive radiation treatment daily at our Sangrur unit, on two machines. With the upgraded teletherapy machine, our overall treatment capacity will increase to more than 140 patients per day.
The higher and more optimal dose rate will also reduce the time patients spend on the treatment machine, improving their overall experience. Early initiation of radiotherapy is critical in cancer management, and reducing delays can contribute significantly to better treatment outcomes," he said.
“The Department of Atomic Energy has been kind enough to support around Rs 1.5 crore for the procurement, transportation and installation of the source in the BH-II machine in Sangrur, to support the needy cancer patients of Punjab”, he added.