West Bengal: Nine Physicist-cum-radiation safety officers to be appointed at district hospitals

Kolkata: The West Bengal health department is planning to recruit physicist-cum-radiation safety officers at various district hospitals of the state with an aim to bring specialised cancer treatment to the people in their districts. 

The government recently took steps to establish separate cancer units in all district hospitals, which are part of its measures to boost cancer treatment infrastructure in the districts. 

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The health department has published the names of nine physicist-cum-radiation safety officers in various hospitals and medical colleges including Burdwan Medical College, Murshidabad Medical College, North Bengal Medical College, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital. 

In the Swasthya Bhawan, officials are undergoing training by the Health department which would last till May 11. Around 24 medical colleges and 14 district hospitals would also be taking part in the training programme.  

The model is currently in the discussion phase with the superintendents, deputy superintendents, various department heads of the district hospitals as well as medical colleges who are joined in to discuss how to launch the new services.

As part of expanding cancer treatment to more people, the health department is also planning to establish breast cancer centres in three districts and two health districts of Bengal on a pilot basis. Around 14 district hospitals would be marked with 24 state-run medical colleges for treatment. 

Institutions like the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital and Murshidabad Medical College is currently in the process of major infrastructural revamp in order to provide tertiary cancer care to patients. Their construction work is completed and they are all set to be equipped with advanced equipment to provide top-class cancer treatment. The cancer centres might start functioning after this year's Durga Puja festival, reports the Millenium post. 

The health department has reportedly set up plans to boost the cancer treatment infrastructure in the hospital by adopting a 'hub and spoke' model, which works as a distribution network resembling a bicycle wheel. 

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