The lone radiology machine at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, lying inoperative for the last six months. Photo: Star

The lone radiotherapy machine for treating cancer patients at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital has remained out of order for the last eight months, much to the suffering of the patients.

Purchased in 1996, the machine occasionally went out of order from 2002, and was repaired, but it stopped working completely eight months ago.

Karpoor Nahar, 55, a cancer patient, who completed the chemotherapy course at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), has been waiting for three months for the machine to be repaired.

Karpoor, wife of Abdul Jalil of Churkhai in Mymensingh Sadar upazila, said "We were asked to go to Dhaka for radiotherapy three months ago, but we cannot afford to go there," said Jalil.

Mannes Ali, 50, a rickshaw-puller, and Md Mizan, a vegetable vendor from Mymensingh town, were also worried that they would not be able to get treatment because of the inoperative radiotherapy machine.

Dr Md Aminul Islam, a cancer specialist and associate professor of Oncology Department of MMCH, said Tk 30 lakh is needed for servicing the radiotherapy machine.

The money was allocated by the government in the current and previous fiscal years, but the MMCH authorities allegedly did not take initiatives for servicing the machine and the money was returned, Dr Islam added.

Letters were written to the hospital director several times in the last couple of years, but to no effect, the doctor further said.

Hospital sources said there are two cancer wards at the department with 13-bed facilities, including eight for males, but there is no patient admitted there now as radiotherapy can't be done.

All patients are referred to Dhaka for radiotherapy, but many could not get appointment in time at government hospitals in Dhaka, sources said.

Earlier, at least 60 patients visited the department every day but now the number has reduced sharply. The department has outdoor facilities but there is no medical officer or resident surgeon posted there.

A cancer patient needs Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 to undergo month-long radiotherapy at a government hospital, while private hospitals charge around Tk 1 lakh, sources said.

Patients have to pay only Tk 600 per dose in the hospital for chemotherapy, while private clinics take Tk 20,000 to Tk 30,000, they added.

A hospital source also alleged that vested quarters who have nexus with the private clinics and hospitals are also active to keep the machine dysfunctional to enjoy handsome commission.

Prof Dr Saiful Alam, head of Radiotherapy Department, said Prof Dr Deen Mohammad Nurul Islam, director general of health, visited the hospital on April 10 and assured the authorities that he would arrange a new machine immediately.

"We need three machines -- two Cobalt-60 machines and a Linear Escalator -- to handle the huge pressure of patients from Mymensingh, Sylhet and the northern regions," Dr Saiful said.

Contacted, MMCH Director Brig Gen Nasir Uddin Ahmed said a new radiotherapy machine has already been procured and it would be installed at the hospital within a month.