JABALPUR — Highlighting a significant regulatory loophole in the state’s healthcare infrastructure, the State Cancer Institute (SCI), Jabalpur, has formally demanded that the health department implement mandatory physical verification of medical physicists across all radiotherapy centers in Madhya Pradesh. The institute warned that a lack of on-ground checks is allowing private hospitals to operate without qualified radiation experts, potentially compromising the safety of thousands of cancer patients.
Medical physicists play a pivotal role in cancer treatment, responsible for the precise calibration of radiation doses and the safety of radiotherapy equipment. Despite strict Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) mandates for their appointment, many hospitals in the state reportedly rely on papers rather than actual presence.
The Physics of Patient Safety
The demand from SCI Jabalpur stems from a growing observation that several private medical facilities claim to have specialists on staff who are rarely, if ever, physically present at the site. “Physicists control the radiation administered during cancer treatment. However, in many private hospitals, doctors and paramedical staff are attempting to manage these complex systems themselves,” a spokesperson for the institute noted.
Without the technical oversight of a medical physicist, the risk of “radiation overexposure or underexposure” increases significantly. Such errors can lead to severe tissue damage or, conversely, a failure to effectively target and destroy malignant tumors.
Regulatory “Paper Trail” vs. Reality
Current protocols under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules require hospitals to submit qualifications to the AERB for the appointment of physicists. However, SCI officials pointed out that the health department’s inspection process often stops at the verification of documents.
“Hardly any hospitals, particularly in the private sector, appoint full-time physicists as required. The health department does not conduct regular physical verification to ensure these experts are actually working at the facility,” the institute emphasized. This has created a “ghost employee” culture that allows facilities to keep radiotherapy units running while cutting costs on specialized salaries.
A Struggle for Resources
The call for physical verification comes as SCI Jabalpur itself faces immense operational pressure. Located within the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, it remains the primary lifeline for cancer patients in the Mahakoshal and Bundelkhand regions.
The institute has been at the center of ongoing legal scrutiny, with the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently slamming the nine-year delay in procuring essential equipment despite a sanctioned budget of ₹84 crore. While the SCI is now treating over 300 OPD patients daily and handling complex pediatric cancer cases, officials believe that overall state-wide safety standards cannot be maintained without stricter regulatory oversight of technical personnel.
By demanding physical verification, the State Cancer Institute is seeking to ensure that every patient in Madhya Pradesh—whether in a government or private ward—receives treatment managed by a verified, qualified professional. The Ministry of Health is expected to review these recommendations as part of an upcoming audit of radiotherapy facilities across the state.
