Punjab government has equipped Nishtar Hospital with an ultra-modern high energy radiotherapy machine for the treatment of cancer patients, said Professor Dr Abrar Ahmed Javed, in-charge Radiotherapy and Oncology department. Talking to newsmen on Tuesday, Dr Abrar said the installation of the equipment was underway and it would be operative in two months.
This was a precise radiotherapy machine in which only the affected portion of the body were exposed to radiation and it matched the facility available at Shaukat Khanum Cancer hospital Lahore, explained the medical expert.
This machine consists of three parts-high energy cobalt unit, simulator and computerised treatment planning system and has been imported from Canada with Rs 52.5 million. To a question, he said cancer chemotherapy treatment was very expensive and most of the people could not afford it. The Punjab government has extended help through Zakat Funds. He acknowledged Punjab Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Maqbool's efforts for getting the 26-year-old project approved and funds released.