GMCH Chandigarh to come up with Department of Nuclear Medicine

Chandigarh: A new department of Nuclear Medicine is set to come up at Chandigarh's Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, with an aim to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic facilities for cancer, heart diseases and certain brain conditions.

The PGI is the only government institute which is equipped with this department, and many patients seeking this treatment have no option but to go to a private centre that has a high waiting period.

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Dr Sudhir Garg, medical superintendent, GMCH, said, "The GMCH treats a large number of such patients. Establishing this facility will be a big relief to them, especially patients with cancer. It not only helps in establishing extent of disease but is also a great tool for monitoring response to chemotherapy/radiotherapy."

The Positron emission tomography (PET) scan which is to come up at the centre, is a technique used to detect early signs of cancer, heart disease and brain condition. This facility would cost around Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000 at private centres. In this, a safe radioactive tracer is injected into the body which is used to detect diseased cells, as recommended by a specialist.

The facility of PET scans was a long pending demand of the patients coming to GMCH. The GMCH is planning to recruit an assistant professor and two senior residents for this.

Speaking to TOI, a faculty member said, "Once this facility starts, it will develop and grow to take more such cases. This will enable patients to seek treatment at the same rates as at the PGI and also shorten the waiting period for PET scan, which is more than six months or even a year at times."

Meanwhile, the institute has also ordered a new cobalt unit in radiation oncology, and other infrastructures for improving patient care at the GMCH.

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