Cancer treatment equipment: 3 new cancer treatment equipment commenced

Union Minister for Health, Professor Dr. Thet Khaing Win, attended the ceremony marking the commencement of the use of cancer treatment equipment (Linear Accelerators - LA) at the National Cancer Treatment Center, currently under construction in the Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) Township of Yangon Region on January 21.

The ceremony began with the Union Minister, the Chief Minister of Yangon Region, and officials cutting the ribbon to open the equipment rooms, including Radixact (Room 1), Halcyon (Room 2), the CT Simulator room, and Vital Beam machines (Room 3).

The responsible officials then demonstrated the operation and usage of the equipment.Following this, the second part of the ceremony took place at the National Cancer Treatment Center’s meeting hall on the 5th floor, where the Union Minister for Health gave a speech.

In his address, he emphasized that, with the support and leadership of the State Administration Council, the Ministry of Health is working to ensure high-quality cancer treatments are available within the country. He also highlighted that, in 2023, a new LA machine was installed and operational at Mandalay General Hospital, and another one in 2024 at Yangon General Hospital.

Moreover, the Ministry has allowed the use of radiotherapy for cancer treatment in five private hospitals, with free radiotherapy services provided to the patients selected by Yangon and Mandalay General Hospitals. Starting today, three LA machines will be operational, and it is expected that health workers, with their dedicated efforts, will be able to treat between 200 to 400 patients per day.

Following this, the Chief Minister of Yangon Region, U Soe Thein, delivered the remarks, and the Rector (Medical Superintendant/Medical Service) of Yangon General Hospital Dr. Thida Hla expressed words of thanks.The Union Minister and party then visited the completed staff housing, inspected the facilities, and addressed any necessary improvements.

The total value of the three cancer treatment machines inaugurated is approximately 32.5 billion Kyat. Additionally, the value of the CT Simulator machine used alongside these machines is 2.55 billion Kyat, it’s learnt.