• Officials fear outdated model may face spare parts, software issues
• Ministry says no machine can match the latest model on delivery 

Concerns have been raised over a proposed purchase of an outdated linear accelerator (LINAC) for the National Cancer Institute (Apeksha Hospital) in Maharagama, instead of investing in the latest technology required for cancer treatment.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (18), health service sources at the Hospital stated the machine was to be purchased using funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). They warned that procuring an outdated model could create problems with maintenance and long-term use, particularly if the manufacturer discontinues the model.

“We are saying that we should purchase the latest version, and there are reasonable grounds for this. When manufacturers introduce new versions of medical equipment, they generally discontinue older models. Once a model is discontinued, spare parts may no longer be available. There could also be software-related problems, as the software itself becomes outdated,” a source explained.

The proposed purchase has also raised questions about whether the equipment meets the hospital’s current clinical and technological requirements and represents a suitable long-term investment for the public health sector. "The Health Ministry must clarify the technical specifications of the proposed LINAC, its expected service life and the availability of spare parts and software support to ensure that the equipment purchased with ADB funds meets the hospital’s long-term needs," the sources added.

Meanwhile, delays have been reported in making the hospital’s CT simulator fully operational. The simulator is essential for planning radiotherapy, and delays in its operation can disrupt treatment planning and add to waiting times for cancer patients.

Attempts to contact the Director of Apeksha Hospital for comment were unsuccessful at the time of going to press. 

However, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni, when contacted by The Daily Morning, pledged to look into the allegations concerning the proposed LINAC purchase.

He said the latest version of a CT simulator had been purchased for Apeksha Hospital, but it had taken three months to resolve problems that emerged after installation because its software was incompatible with the Hospital’s existing software. “When a machine is procured through the tender process, it takes time. After a tender is awarded and the order is placed, it can take about a year for a LINAC to be delivered. By then, newer versions may have been introduced. It is not possible anywhere in the world to obtain a machine that matches the very latest version available at the time of delivery,” he said.