JORHAT, May 30 � In what may turn out to be a boon for the people of the State, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the country�s most prestigious atomic research institute, has taken up initiatives for providing its best known technological devices to Dr Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) in Guwahati for cost-effective treatment to cancer patients.
During an interaction with the media at the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) on May 28, BARC director Padmashree Shekhar Basu said they are trying to equip the BBCI with such machinery and technologies which provide the best treatment currently available in a few cancer hospitals in the country.
�To give cost-effective treatment to the cancer patients of this region, we will provide some state-of-the-art devices to the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute,� he said.
Expressing concern over the growing number of cancer patients in the Northeast and lack of adequate treatment facilities in the region, the renowned nuclear scientist said that the people here must get the benefits of research and development in the BARC in fighting a dreaded disease like cancer.
The radioisotopes produced by the BARC in its research reactors are used for diagnosis and treatment of the killer diseases like cancer. The indigenous telecobalt machine developed by the BARC, named �Bhabaton�, has been recognised as one of the best products for cancer treatment in the country.
As a part of its technology upgrade, the BBCI has already installed a Bhabaton and the patients are likely to get its benefits from next month. The hospital is also going to be equipped with its second radiotherapy simulator developed by the BARC. The simulator is an essential tool for improving the quality of teletherapy.
�Basu sir�s intimation may be a good indication of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)�s probable consideration for taking up the hospital for funding and setting up of better treatment facilities. The department has already done it in some parts of the country,� said a senior official of the BBCI, adding, the DAE�s high priority to cancer treatment has been a boon to lakhs of cancer patients in the country.
The BARC director was in the town to attend the inaugural function of a meeting on the topic �Application of radiation technology and radioisotopes in the field of agriculture, food and health� in the AAU.
AAU Vice Chancellor Dr KM Bujarbaruah said they are going to discuss seven mega projects on agriculture with the BARC scientists during the meeting.
