This as Health Minister Zweli Mkhize reveals in his written response to questions posed by Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP), Siviwe Gwarube, on the Parliament Monitoring Group website that the only two Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machines in the Northern Cape currently need to be replaced and are therefore not functional.

RadiologyInfo.org defines a linear accelerator machine (LINAC) as “the device most commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. It delivers high-energy x-rays or electrons to the region of the patient's tumour”.

The province’s two ineffective machines were located at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH) in Kimberley. Department spokesperson, Lulu Mxekezo, says so far twelve patients have been scanned as preparation for radiotherapy, while four others are scheduled to be scanned at the unnamed private hospital. Mxekezo adds that two patients have completed treatment thus far. It is unknown how much the department is paying the private facility for this service.

The Northern Cape Health Department assures the public that work is being done to remedy the situation, confirming that a Cancer Treatment Centre is currently being built in the province, and it is expected  “it will be fully functional in three years time”.


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