PATNA: State health minister Mangal Pandey on Tuesday assured all possible help to Patna Medical College and Hospital’s (PMCH) cancer department. The state government would provide funds for purchasing machines and equipment for treatment of deadly diseases like cancer, he said while inaugurating the radiotherapy unit at PMCH.Pandey said the hospital would soon have brachytherapy machine for free treatment of cancer patients. “Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL) is likely to procure the machine by next month,” he said.PMCH radiotherapy department head Dr PN Pandit submitted to the minister a list of latest machines needed for the treatment of cancer patients. These include linear accelerator radiation machine, treatment planning system, singulator and cobalt machines. The minister assured him to procure the machines.“The radiotherapy unit was shut down in 2013 after the radioactive cobalt therapy machine’s (Theratron 780E) source got outdated. The department with the assistance of state government purchased the source for the machine and it started functioning from July 9. We have received permission from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to operate the machine,” Dr Pandit said.“Around 20 cancer patients get treatment at the radiotherapy unit daily. The department remains open from 8am to 8pm and provides free radiotherapy to patients suffering from any kind of cancer,” he said.Principal secretary (health) Sanjay Kumar, Aryabhatta Knowledge University vice-chancellor Dr A K Agarwal, PMCH principal Dr Ajit Kumar Verma among others were present on the occasion.

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