The Government Radiology Technologists Association reports that three out of five radiotherapy machines used to treat cancer patients at Maharagama Apeksha Hospital have broken down, disrupting daily radiation treatment for approximately 250 patients.
These machines malfunctioned on the 7th and 8th of this month.
According to maintenance contracts, the machines must be repaired within three days of failure. If not, the contracted company is subject to a surcharge of 1% of the contract amount per day. However, the association claims that despite these provisions, the Ministry of Health has not enforced the penalty in the past.
The association’s chairman, Chanaka Dharmawickrama, warned that interrupting radiation treatment could worsen cancer progression in patients.
The association further stated that 10 linear accelerator machines are currently in use in government hospitals. They urged health authorities to investigate the frequent breakdowns, assess machine quality, and address delays in repairs.
