Srinagar- The much anticipated cancer diagnostic center at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here has failed to meet expectations of distressed patients, despite a whopping amount of Rs 110 crore sanctioned by the Central government over a decade ago to execute the ambitious project.
Insiders told Kashmir Observer that a number of crucial machines at the State Cancer Institute (SCI) are yet to be procured, leaving the patients with no option but to visit other states for treatment. Among the requisite machinery include, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and linear accelerator machine, CT-simulator and a number of surgical equipment.
Pertinent to mention that the Valley is witnessing a rise in cancer cases with the union territory reporting 51,000 cancer cases in the last four years (2019 to 2022), as per data by Government of India.
“This dream project was aimed to bring relief to cancer patients. We wanted them to avail treatment here at SCI instead of visiting other states. However, this project seems far from over,” a retired official from SKIMS told Kashmir Observer.
He said that out of Rs 110 crore sanctioned by the Central government, 30 percent of the funds were to be utilized in construction of SCI and the remaining on the infrastructure, including the procurement of machines.
“Over Rs. 47.25 crore was provided in the first installment in the year 2015 for the project. With these funds, we constructed a five-floor building and procured a Linear Accelerator Machine as well,” he told Kashmir Observer.
However, he alleged that the “internal politics” at the SKIMS led to this crucial project getting stalled.
“The (UC) utilization certificates were supposed to be submitted in the year 2020 to seek more funds from the centre. However, the administration failed to do so,” he said.
Sources said that the institution failed to utilize rest of the funds in procuring the important machines meant for treating and diagnosing the cancer among patients.
They said the important machines which are yet to be procured include one more Linear Accelerator, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Four-dimensional radiation therapy and a number of surgical equipment.
Sources said one linear accelerator machine has been procured while one is pending.
Another doctor from the oncology department blamed “taking away” of SKIMS autonomy by the government as one of the main reasons for the stalling of the project.
“SKIMS has been reduced to a mere district hospital with its autonomy taken away,” he said, adding that the idea of SCI was to create a state of the art facility for cancer patients so that a minimum number of patients visit outside healthcare institutions for treatment.
“As a result of the delay, a number of dedicated and experienced doctors have left the SCI for better perks and working conditions,” the oncologist said.
“There is a delay in surgical intervention for patients at the SCI as there are no adequate numbers of theaters,” he added.
Sources said that the Radiation oncology department of the hospital has been functioning without a CT-simulator machine for the last three months.
The CT-simulator is an advanced, real-time 3D treatment planning system seamlessly integrated with a CT scanner and a range of additional components. Among its features are a multi-image display, a treatment planning device with real-time visual optimization capabilities, and a laser beam projector.
According to the international atomic agency, for every three thousand population there should have one linear accelerator but Kashmir Valley has just one, reports said.
“So you can imagine the delay and the load. We are very under-provided as far as radiation oncology is concerned,” he said.
He also echoed the same view that no further development is taking place as it should have been at the SCI.
Dr. Nazir Ahmad Khan Professor Deptt. Radiation Oncology SKIMS told Kashmir Observer the CT-simulator had developed some technical snag and is dysfunctional. However, the department, he said, is procuring a new one
“Currently we have three machines working and we will procure a CT-simulator in 3-4 months,” he added.
Director SKIMS, Parvaiz Ahmad Koul told Kashmir Observer that the institute has floated tenders for the machines and the same will be procured before March 2024.
SKIMS, he said, will utilize all the funds meant for the SCI and will demand more funds from the government to finish the project.
“You must understand the procurement process takes a lot of time, thus unnecessary delay,” he said.
Dr. Koul noted that a linear accelerator machine cost more than Rs 30 crore.
“All the machines, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and linear accelerator machine and CT-simulator are in an advanced stage of procurement. We will get them soon,” he said.
He further added that the SCI is in an advanced stage of being one of the best cancer institutions in the country.
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