Hospital had closed tumour board comprising 6 oncologists; new dept to have just one
Hospital had closed tumour board comprising 6 oncologists; new dept to have just oneu00a0
Almost eight months after cancer treatment had stopped at Sassoon hospital amid much controversy, a cancer unit is soon expected to start functioning in a week's time.
Confirming the news, Dr Renu Bharadwaj, dean of Sassoon General Hospital, said interviews were held last week for appointing an honorary oncologist and a doctor had been shortlisted.
"I can not tell you the name of the doctor, but yes, we have a cancer specialist on board. And we are expecting to make an announcement within a week of starting the cancer unit. We are not appointing a separate team of doctors, but some from the surgical unit will help the doctor set up the cancer unit," said Dr Renu Bharadwaj.
Until six months ago, the hospital had a panel of six oncologists who were part of the hospital's tumour board and responsible for consultation, treatment and referring patients for surgeries. About 60 patients used to come in every day for consultations and the serious cases were admitted in the hospital and treated by the oncologists.
However, the board was dissolved after the medical bills of the department ran into crores and it was pointed out that most medicines were being ordered from private chemists.
"It was also noticed that the tumour board wasn't approved by the state government and no proposal had been sent to set it up. Also, it was actually started as a post-graduate activity, where students were to learn latest management protocols, but after sometime it was just private doctors managing the show. Our students were nowhere in the picture," said a senior doctor.
Finally, the hospital wrote to the state government proposing to have its own independent cancer unit and got permission a few weeks ago. Besides cancer, the hospital started an oral and maxillofacial surgery unit two days ago. "It is a surgery specialty to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws. These new specialties will bring the spectrum of services we offer on par with major private hospitals in city," said Bharadwaj.
