The Society of Government Radiological Technologists of Sri Lanka has stated that patients requiring radiation therapy are facing severe difficulties due to the non-functioning of the CT Simulator machine at Maharagama Apeksha Hospital.
The association’s President, Chanaka Dharmawickrama, stated that approximately 1,500 patients are currently on a waiting list as a result.
A new CT Simulator machine was installed to replace the hospital’s old unit and was handed over to hospital staff last month for clinical use.
However, Dharmawickrama noted that the new machine remains unusable due to a technical issue arising from incompatibility between its software and the software used for radiation therapy planning.
He further pointed out that obtaining radiation therapy through the private sector would cost an individual patient between Rs. 500,000 and Rs. 2 million.
