Pressing problem: Oncology equipment inoperative at Mayo

Health Department spokesperson rejects claim

LAHORE: Four machines used to treat cancer patients at Mayo Hospital have been rendered inoperative, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The equipment has broken down due to leaking roofs, power breakdowns and electric short-circuits. The development has exacerbated the suffering of thousands of patients who are now being referred to other health facilities.

“Mayo is the only hospital where cancer patients are treated for free completely,” Oncology Department Assistant Registrar Kazim Raza said. He said it was unfortunate that thousands of patients were being referred to other health facilities, which were charging them a fortune. Raza said the radiotherapy, cobalt, brachytherapy and simulation machines had gone out of order. He also said that the government had been requested to supply a linear accelerator a long time ago but the demand had remained unfulfilled. “The machines are worth billions of rupees. They are only available at Lahore’s Shaukat Khanum, Jinnah, Islamabad’s PIMS, Karachi’s Aga Khan and Baqai Hospitals,” Kazim said. “Can you believe it? The room to the left of the cancer ward is filled with filthy water that has been damaging equipment worth billions and nobody has taken responsibility for this,” he quipped. He said Mayo Hospital MS Amjad Shehzad and Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Salman Rafique had been requested time and again—in writing—to look into the matter in vain.

Kazim said the equipment was pivotal to treat cancer patients. He said the simulation machine was employed to mark the area to be treated. The cobalt machine, he said, projected gamma rays used to kill tumours. Kazim said the brachytherapy machine was used to treat women cancer patients while the linear accelerator conformed to patients’ tumours and helped effective treatment.

The AR also spoke about the shortage of doctors and paramedics at the department. “Once upon a time, hundreds of patients were treated from morning to evening but the numbers have dwindled remarkably,” he said. Kazim said no patient was currently admitted to the department’s two wards that could accommodate 64 patients as radiotherapy was not being carried out there. “All patients are being referred to Jinnah for radiotherapy. Many have not been able to secure timely appointments across public hospitals,” he said.

Cancer patient Muhammad Ali told The Express Tribune that he was at a loss to understand where he could get treated. Ali said Shaukat Khanum and Jinnah were filled to the brim with patients.

Health Department Spokesperson Akhlaq Ali Khan rejected the claim that the machines had been rendered inoperative. “All machines are in working order barring one that is used to conduct routine check-ups. It is undergoing routine maintenance,” he said. Khan concurred that there was indeed a shortage of experts at the department. He said no oncology professor across the country was willing to join Mayo.

The adviser to chief minister and hospital MS remained unavailable for comments despite multiple attempts.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2016.