New Delhi, Jan 22 (.) A modern radiation therapy machine will be installed at the Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) by the end of March this year, boosting the state’s cancer treatment capacity, after the institute signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) on Wednesday.
The project is being supported under IOCL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The MoU was inked at the Delhi Secretariat in the presence of senior officials from the Health Ministry, DSCI, and IOCL.
After installation, it will take another nine months to make the machine operational, officials noted. The high-end Linear Accelerator will need commissioning and mandatory approvals from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
Applauding the support of IOCL and the Government, Dr Vinod Kumar, Director and CEO of DSCI said, “This advanced technology will enable us to deliver highly precise, world-class radiation therapy and significantly improve treatment outcomes for our patients.”
This high-end machine will go a long way in enhancing the institute’s capacity to provide advanced, accurate, and patient-centric cancer treatment, benefiting thousands of patients annually, added the official document.
Dr Pragya Shukla, Head of Department, Clinical Oncology, DSCI, lauded the initiative and committed to using the device to provide treatments to patients from marginalised communities, suffering from this life-threatening ailment.
“The addition of this high-end Linear Accelerator will not only reduce waiting times for patients but also enhance the institute’s ability to deliver safe, efficient, and evidence-based radiotherapy,” said Dr Ravinder Singh, Joint Director, DSCI.
The addition is expected to improve access to advanced radiation therapy at the state-run institute, reduce patient backlogs, and ease pressure on other public hospitals offering cancer treatment.
. MBJ KK