The Maharagama Cancer hospital will get a state-of-the-art cancer treatment unit at a cost of Rs.630 million shortly.

The unit will consist of highly advanced medical technology in treating cancer patients with high radiation, with Linear Accelerator System (LAS). Oncologists are of the view that the LAS will be more effective in treating cancer patients, Health Ministry sources said.

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told The Island that unlike the radio-active traditional coblt therapy used for treating cancer patients, the LAS technology was being used in advanced countries to treat patients and Sri Lanka was privileged to have such technology. The LAS treatment therapy could destroy the cancerous tissues in the body, but the machine should be handled with great care by a qualified technician.

He said that the Health Ministry would have to expend around Rs.150 million for the entire maintenance of the LAS unit annually. A new complex for the installation of the LAS unit was being built as the LAS could not be operated in rooms of traditional buildings because when operated the LAS could easily penetrate normal building materials and injure people outside the treatment room. The treatment rooms would have to be designed in accordance with the health rules and regulations. Building plans have already been completed that the walls of the treatment unit to be constructed with high-density concrete and the doors to be made of lead.