KATH takes delivery of parts to fix radiotherapy machine, calls for retooling of hospital intensify

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has taken delivery of mechanical parts for the fixing of malfunctioning radiotherapy machine.

The equipment, essential in the treatment of cancer patients, has been defective for close to five weeks.

Cancer patients in need of radiotherapy were unable to receive treatment.

Joy News sources at the hospital say technicians have moved to work, after receiving the parts, to get the machine running in no time.

CEO of the Hospital, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah has been to the radiotherapy unit to supervise work being done by the technicians.

Calls for retooling the hospital have heightened following the breakdown of the radiotherapy machine.

The Oncology Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has two radiotherapy machines serving its patients.

One of the two machines is obsolete, with parts no longer on the market.

The radiotherapy unit is the only one located in the northern sector of the country, serving patients from about twelve regions.

According to the hospital, between 16 and 20 thousand patients visit the Oncology Unit annually for treatment.

About sixty percent of the number, in the course of treatment, will require radiotherapy in their treatment.

Head of Department, Dr. Bawuah Osei Bonsu says, “We will need another machine so that we transfer the patients onto the other if one develops a fault.”

In June last year, medical doctors at the unit went on strike following the malfunction of the Linear Accelerator System used for radiotherapy services.

Managers of the hospital highlighted the issues when the parliamentary select committee on health visited.

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Source: myjoyonline.com