STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: It has been a defining and a landmark day in the history of health care delivery In the Jammu region. Following start of PET scan services, the much awaited Brachytherapy services were started at State Cancer Institute, GMC Jammu on Wednesday. Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Administrative Secretary, a medico himself, has been instrumental making this high-end facility functional.
The Radiation oncology team headed by Prof. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal GMC Jammu who is himself a well-known Cancer Specialist, performed first brachytherapy.
The other team members from Radiation Oncology Department included Dr. Rahul Sharma (Professor and head Radiation Oncology), Dr Sandeep Kaur (Associate Professor), Dr S.S Katoch (Assistant Professor), Sahil Gupta (Senior Physicist), Tinish Sehgal ( Radiation Safety Officer), P.A Rather (Junior Medical Physicist), Sheldon Dominic (Application Specialist from Germany), Survinder Kour Sudan and other supportive staff. A total of four brachytherapy patients were treated today.
Dr. Deepak Kumar, Medical Superintendent of State Cancer Institute supervised the whole procedure.
The Brachytherapy is an advanced form of Radiation therapy treatment used for treatment of cancers like Gynaecological cancers, cancer of Oesophagus and other cancers.
Dr. Abid stated that this has been a landmark achievement for not only GMC Jammu but also for the people of Jammu region who were suffering a lot due to non-availability of this vital facility which is must to treat and monitor cancer patients.
The new machine procured a cost of Rs 6.5 crore by J&K Medical Supply Corporation, is the latest generation brachytherapy machine by Eckert and Ziegler BEBIG GmbH (SagiNova).
The model installed has highest NEMA sensitivity and quantization accuracy which ultimately provides enhanced patient care, comfort and satisfaction. State Cancer Institute is a very prestigious project funded by Govt. of India at a cost of Rs 104 crore. Dr. Ashutosh said brachytherapy treatment is totally free of cost under Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
It is apt to mention here that State Cancer Institute, GMC Jammu has made significant progress recently. The services to cancer patients include Cancer Chemotherapy, PET Scan, Brachytherapy, all high end diagnostic services like digital radiography, High end ultrasound with colour doppler, transvaginal ultrasound, Preventive oncology services etc. Very soon, the much sought after High energy linear Accelerator will be made functional for which the instillation work is going on.
