All six radiotherapy machines of the NICRH have been out of order for 19 days, depriving over 200 cancer patients of their scheduled therapy every day.

The National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICRH) in the capital is the country's only full-fledged cancer treatment facility.

Of the hospital's six radiotherapy machines, two Linear Accelerators (LINACs) became nonfunctional two years ago and two Cobalts a year ago.

Since then, the two remaining LINACs were used beyond their capacities for approximately 200-230 patients every day, until they recently became nonfunctional.

One of the machines malfunctioned during a therapy session on December 21. The other stopped working the following day, halting all radiotherapy services at the state-run facility.

While visiting the NICRH yesterday, a notice was seen in the radiotherapy department, announcing that the machines were out of order. There was no mention of when they might be operational and patients were told they would be contacted later when the machines start working again.

The hospital authorities are yet to specify when the machines will be repaired and made operational. However, they have announced plans to set up two new radiotherapy machines in February and March.

Confirming that all six machines are currently non-functional, NICRH Director Dr Jahangir Kabir said the hospital has been unable to provide radiotherapy services, forcing around 200 cancer patients to return home without the therapy every day.

He added that efforts are underway to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

''By the first week of February, we hope that one new machine will start its operation, and within the first week of March, we will start operating another new machine.

''If four more machines can be made operational, we will be able to provide therapy to an additional 600 cancer patients daily."

The collapse of radiotherapy services at the NICHR is a stark reminder of the systemic challenges in Bangladesh's healthcare system.

Patients who had waited months to get radiotherapy appointments at the NICHR have expressed frustration over the disruption in services. Many travelled long distances to Dhaka, only to find the machines out of order.

Rabeya Begum, 53, a breast cancer patient from Moulvibazar, said she underwent four radiotherapy sessions at the NICHR.

She arrived at the hospital yesterday morning for her fifth scheduled therapy, only to find the machines were non-operational.

"My family had to borrow money for my treatment. Yet, I missed my therapy today [yesterday]. I don't know how I'll manage the rest of my five therapy sessions."

Speaking to The Daily Star on the condition of anonymity, a doctor of the NICRH, said, "Patients of this hospital have been facing difficulties, either due to faulty machines or delays in getting appointment, for the past five years. The hospital authorities have done nothing in this regard. We had even gone to the higher authorities for help, and they too have done nothing yet.

''We're tired of constantly turning patients away. It's extremely frustrating for a medical team to not be able to provide proper treatment to the patients."