Cancer patients receiving treatments at the state civil hospital has increased by over 800 per cent since 2006 in Meghalaya.
State health minister A L Hek informed the Assembly today that 531 patients received treatment at the hospital last year as compared to only 66 in 2006.
The total (cumulative) patients receiving treatment from 2006 at Shillong Civil Hospital are 2,884 till date, the minister said while replying to a call attention motion moved by United Democratic Party legislator Paul Lyngdoh.
On the equipment for treating the disease at the hospital, Hek said the Cobalt machine (Theratron 780E) was functioning and the electrometer was provided by the Guwahati-based North East Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.
He said steps were being taken to purchase a new electrometer even as the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) had earlier advised not to conduct radio-therapy to new patients as the survey meter was not functioning.
The government has also procured a new survey meter and it has been sent to the AERB for calibration and a certificate was awaited, he said.
"We are expecting the permission from AERB, which is expected in the next 2-3 days after which new patients will be admitted," the minister added.
