The Madras High Court Bench here on Friday directed the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) Dean to file a detailed report by February 26 in reply to a public interest litigation petition filed by a social activist, demanding provision of adequate medical facilities and equipment to treat cancer patients at its oncology department.
Justices S. Tamilvanan and V.S. Ravi passed the order on the PIL petition filed by C. Anand Raj of Equal Right, a non-governmental organisation based here. The petitioner had sought a direction to the State government to replace the cobalt isotopes used for providing radiation therapy since they were about to expire in the course of this month. His counsel R. Alagumani stated that the GRH had been obtaining isotopes from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai once in every five years. They were used to provide radiotherapy to cancer patients for 28 days after surgery. Though they were about to expire this month, no concrete steps had been taken to replace them on time so far, he alleged.
