CANCERCARE Border Oncology Centre launched their new state-of-the-art linear accelerator machine at the St Dominics Hospital last week.
Equra Health officially unveiled the new machine after a five- month period of replacing the old linear accelerator.
The machine started treating cancer patients on June 25 and is now fully operational, treating about 35 patients a day.
CEO of Medical Specialist Holdings, Jacques Snyman said it was a great privilege for him to unveil the new investment. as it was is their moral and ethical duty to invest in the treatment of cancer patients.
“Our mission is quality access to oncology care, as well as affordability,” he said.
Lead Radiation Therapist at Equra Health’s Radiation Unit, based at Border Oncology Centre, Michelle Martin said they aimed to treat 40 patients a day with the new machine.
“We treated five patients when we started, now the capacity has increased ever since,” she said.
CEO of Frere Hospital, Dr Rolene Wagner said recently there had been much debate in the country over the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, and it was is clear that medical practitioners were are moving towards universal access.
“What has been exciting about the partnership between Frere and Equra Health is that it has proven that with common purpose, the state and private sector can actually work together,” she said.
