A Rs 35.82 crore Linear Accelerator machine, meant to provide advanced radiation treatment to cancer patients, is expected to reach the new under-construction Cancer Hospital attached to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, within the next seven to eight days. However, the machine may remain unused due to lack of a dedicated electricity sub-station.

 

The issue came before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court during hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation on healthcare facilities in Government hospitals across Vidarbha. Amicus Curiae Advocate Isha Thakare brought the matter to the court’s attention. She informed the Bench of Justice Anil S Kilor and Justice Rajnish R Vyas that the hospital needs an additional Rs 2.75 crore to develop the electrical infrastructure required to operate the machine. The Linear Accelerator requires a power supply of around 1 Mega Volt-Ampere (MVA). However, the hospital building, constructed by the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA), does not have provision for a sub-station of this capacity in its original plan.

 

As a result, the GMCH administration will have to arrange additional funds and coordinate with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to provide the required power connection. The delay could affect cancer patients from across Vidarbha, many of whom depend on Government hospitals for affordable treatment. There are concerns that such an expensive machine could remain unused despite reaching the hospital. Advocate Isha Thakare urged the High Court to seek a status report from the State Government and MSEDCL. She also requested that MSEDCL be added as a respondent in the PIL. The court has also raised questions over the pending recruitment of 170 Class IV employees at GMCH. Advocate Deepak Thakare appeared for the Government.