Deputy Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr Hamis Kigwangalla, told Members of Parliament (MPs) here that the needs for chemotherapy medicines to treat cancer for the year 2015/16 is 7.2bn/-.“The government shoulders the costs of treatment of cancer for patients suffering from the disease and has been increasing budget allocation for purchasing of cancer medicines and be supplied to the cancer victims at the institute,” he explained.
The deputy minister was responding to basic question from Rashid Ali Abdalla (Tumbe – CUF), who said cancer patients at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute cannot access treatments on time, wanting to know what the government is doing to address the challenges.Dr Kigwangalla said in 2011 the government in collaboration with Bungando Hospital started construction of a cancer institute at the hospital, which will increase the capacity to treat cancer patients.
He said construction of the institute is now complete including bunkers where Linear accelerator or in short LINAC machines for treatment of cancer will be installed.
“The next step is to instal the Linac machines which are being used in Tanzania for the first time and treatment of cancer through chemotherapy drug is available and is dispensed to patients who need this line of treatment,” he explained.
The linac machine generates high energy x-rays (photons) which are then carefully aimed at the area targeted for treatment. It can be used to treat all areas of the body from head to toe.
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