Deficit radio therapy device, cancer patients are out of service

They've been waiting for radiation hearings for days, as a result of a radiation breakdown. It is not the first time patients in this clinic have to interrupt these sessions. Meanwhile, their family members say that they are tired of this situation. The Oncology Clinic has declared for Kosovo that this is happening because of its oldness. In fact, during the past year, this clinic would have to be equipped with new equipment but not because of tender procedures.

S.G. diagnosed with colon cancer should conduct 28 radiation and chemotherapy sessions. So far it's finished four of these, and even though since December it's on the list for radio therapy, it's waiting.

I've been on the list since December to start radio therapy. At first, we are told that there are many patients, and then the camera and similar answers are broken. We've been called for the 12th date, I've had the first session, the following Thursday we've been told it's broken, and now every day we call them with no means if it's set for”, says S.G.

Such expectations are making her condition worse. She tells of Kosova Prees that she fears the disease could advance. There are good words for health personnel, while showing that there is even trouble providing certain drugs with which Oncology is not supplied.

I waited two months to begin, and now the suspension is very difficult for me, and I add here that I fear the disease may advance. This, except that it costs me time, stress, and fear, costs the state too much. At my job, I have a pay break, this is where the number of people waiting and all that costs. Besides the broken device, even some drugs have not yet arrived. And no one knows any answers to it. I shouldn't forget to mention, doctors in this department are the best available, wherever they go to clinics, they're not that professional and kind in private, but they're equipment and supplies with the missing drugs. And each day we expect increases the number of patients, and the wait for each gets longer”, it adds.

Similar confessions can be heard by many others. But even the family members of the sick do not find it easier. The mother of A.S. from Vushtrria has been suffering from breast cancer for two years now. It shows on condition of anonymity that on Monday, her mother, had radiation hearings, but that the radio therapy device was broken. This is not the first time this has happened.

“In the radio therapy department (oncology) people who are receiving radiation therapies almost every week destroy the device. People who are treating the disease must cut off radiation hearings. Their treatment does not continue in a few weeks, until the device” is fixed, it tells of Kosovas Press.

The director of Oncology Clinic, Ilir Kurtishi, himself has confirmed this. He claims that this device has broken down for three days now, but he points out that they are in the process of installing the new radiation device. The same says it has taken time but vows that by the end of April this device will be installed.

We've had these last three four days a device defect, which is the old 2007 device. The new device, which increases the quality of radiation treatment, is also being installed. This device, which has been, is flawed, we hope that tomorrow it will be adjusted and patients will continue treatment”, he declares for Kosovas.

Until the old machine says it can be fixed tomorrow, he expects the young man to be installed within the month.

We hope since the beginning of May, our patients will be much better treated with radiation. The quality of the services will be much better, and there will be no delay or destruction of the device. And without obstacles because it's happened to us in the last five to six years,”, he says.

The device, which is expected to be installed early this month, was scheduled for last year. For this, Oncology' leader tells Kosovo that it has been the tendering procedure and that the budget is oriented elsewhere.

The device was in tender procedures. We worked until a month ago, two months with two machines that were. We've added demand for a new device. But the problems that have happened with COVIED last year and it's budget navigation elsewhere... The budget means, especially last year, it was a will to get a new device. We hope this year the Ministry of Health supports the old device we have replaced within this year... It's meant for last year, but tendering processes have been carried out and devices and we hope to install” this year, he adds to Kosova Preress.

Asked how the interruption of this therapy affects patients, the director of Oncology stresses that the sessions will then be continued. In this regard, KosovaPress has also tried to receive an answer from the Ministry of Health, but has refused to speak.

Radio therapy radiation service, at QKUUK, is free for all citizens.

Radio therapy device would have to run up to 70 radiation a day. During the past year, 1370 new cases have been recorded with cancer. The number of those infected with COVID-19 was about 350 cases.