World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Investigation demanded into alleged purchase of aging cancer treatment equipment
Authorities are being urged to probe claims that officials attempted to procure outdated radiotherapy machinery for use in Sri Lankan hospitals. The equipment in question is reported to be over 17 years old.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Concerns have been raised over an alleged attempt to acquire aging medical equipment for cancer treatment facilities in Sri Lanka, prompting calls for a formal investigation into the matter.
The equipment at the centre of the controversy is reportedly a radiotherapy machine more than 17 years old, raising questions about its operational safety and treatment efficacy. Medical professionals have expressed concern about the suitability of such dated machinery for delivering modern cancer care.
Stakeholders have urged relevant authorities to conduct a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the proposed acquisition, including how the equipment was sourced and evaluated before being considered for purchase.
The matter highlights ongoing challenges in Sri Lanka's healthcare infrastructure, where funding constraints sometimes lead to difficult decisions regarding medical equipment procurement. Officials are yet to provide detailed statements regarding the allegations or the status of any investigation.
Photo: An Elekta linear accelerator of the kind used for radiotherapy, at a hospital in Mysuru, India (illustrative), December 2015. Narenfox via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).