Dozens seeking cancer treatment were turned away from Safdarjung Hospital in India as the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) shut down the hospital’s radiotherapy department.
According to AERB regulations, hospitals cannot administer radiation therapy without a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). Although Safdarjung Hospital already had an RSO, the AERB did not recognize her because she submitted her application for renewal in print while the AERB had transitioned to an online system. Until the RSO resubmits her application online, the hospital must direct all new cancer patients—upward of 120 each week—to one of three other government hospitals that offer cancer care.
This is the second time the AERB has shut down Safdarjung Hospital’s radiotherapy department; both shutdowns are due to vacant posts for RSOs and medical physicists.
The shutdown, albeit temporary, slows cancer patients’ access to care. However, radiation safety is always a concern and must be regulated in order to protect people’s health. RSOs use devices like RadTarge II to track their exposure and warn them when radiation levels are dangerous.