Cancer detection crisis at Peradeniya Hospital

By L.B. Senaratane

The Nuclear Medicine Unit at the Faculty of Medicine and the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital are heading for a breakdown in bone, liver cancer and thyroid detection if the X-ray cameras in use are not replaced immediately.

The equipment was donated by the International Atomic Energy Authority at Vienna 25 years ago.

“It is beyond repair,” Unit Head Dr. V.J. Udugama said, adding “This unit comes under the Higher Education Ministry and it has no funds to allocate for this sort of equipment. But we serve the Health Ministry and it is this Ministry which should arrange for new equipment. If immediate remedial action is not taken the services will breakdown completely,” added Dr. Udugama.