Advanced Tomo Therapy machine inaugurated at MGCHRI in Visakhapatnam

An advanced Tomo Therapy Radixact X 9, a next generation precision radiation technology machine, was inaugurated by Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat at the Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (MGCHRI) at MVP Colony in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday (December 30, 2025).

Speaking after the inauguration, Mr. Sribharat said that it was unfortunate that many poor families were being financially crippled due to the high cost of cancer treatment. He said that the Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital was thinking on how to keep the treatment cost to the bare minimum for those who were not covered under the government schemes.

Around 70 per cent of cancer patients were covered under Arogyasri and measures should be taken to keep the cost to the bare minimum by ‘not for profit’ hospitals like Basavatarakam Hospital and MGCHRI, he added.

Dr. Murali Krishna Voonna, MD, said that with the launch of the advanced Tomo Therapy equipment, MGCHRI has been recognised as Andhra Pradesh’s first level-3 cancer hospital. He said that the hospital has not turned away any patient due to their inability to pay the cost of treatment. It has taken up such cases by raising donations to fund their treatment.

He appealed to the MP to urge the Centre to subsidise the cost of HPV vaccine, which prevents girls from getting cervical cancer at a later stage in life. He also sought a reduction in the high taxation on medical equipment to enable treatment of poor patients at affordable cost. Mr. Sribharat promised to raise the issue in Parliament.