DP to petition Parliament over cancer machine

The Democratic Party (DP) is soon presenting a petition to Parliament demanding an explanation from government on where its priorities are in spending tax payers' money if they could not purchase a new radiotherapy machine before the old one broke down completely.

Speaking during DP's weekly press briefing at their main offices in Kampala on Tuesday, the party's spokesperson, Kenneth Kakande said DP has information from a credible source about several breakdowns of the machine; government was informed but did not take quick action.

"DP has it from good sources that the problems of the machine have been there for some time but government decided not to take action until it completely broke down. This is a clear indication that government has wrong priorities than the welfare of the citizenry," said Kakande.

Last week, the country's one and only radiotherapy machine used for treating cancers at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), Mulago National Referral Hospital broke down beyond repair.

The machine treats over 75 % of cancer patients and has worked for more than twenty years. The machine is used to treat 100 to 120 patients on a daily basis.

Radiotherapy uses radiation to target and kill cancerous cells in a specific part of the body, and can be used for many types of cancer.  

Some of the types of cancer managed by the experts at UCI include breast cancer, cervical cancer, liver cancer, prostate and throat cancer among others.

Kakande alleged that government spends $150m (about sh450b) of tax payers' money annually on foreign referrals of government officials and the affluent to seek for specialized treatment outside the country because the country lacks the requisite equipment for treating the same.

"There are over 2000 cancer patients on the waiting list in Mulago Hospital awaiting treatment. What will happen to these patients? Ugandans must be informed that it is not only the cancer patients facing the effects, same applies to the diabetes that has resulted into kidney failure due to the high expenses resulting from the few dialysis machines," Kakande said.

Adding: "This is not about politics, but the state of health affairs in this country. It is an urgent matter concerning all Ugandans irrespective our political affiliation. As a party, we have decided to present a petition to Parliament through our members of Parliament asking government to explain why the problem of the radiotherapy machine was not given argent attention.

Following the social media outburst about the breakdown of the machine, health minister Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye said  other modality of cancer treatment like chemotherapy, high dose radiotherapy for treating cancer of the cervix, surgery and palliative care are available for patients.

Tumwesigye further said government has already purchased a new radiotherapy machine, awaiting the completion of the construction of a new bunker which will house the machine which will cost sh30bn.

The director of Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) Dr. Jackson Orem said cancer cases are on the rise and currently more than 200,000 cases are registered at Mulago Hospital annually.

He attributed the increased cases to poor eating habits, increased tobacco use and infections among others.

Orem appealed to the public to go for regular checkups and vaccinations for some types of cancers like cancer of the cervix.

Kakande said some Ugandans have plans underway to bring funds together to purchase the new machine, he said DP is willing to contribute large sums of money towards this cause.