Chitwan, 15 March: An international workshop related to cancer has been organized in Chitwan. It is said that theoretical and practical skills will be imparted in the four-day workshop.
Skills and knowledge will be imparted on SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery), SRT (Stereotactic Radiation Therapy) and SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) in the treatment of cancer. It is said that this technology can be used to treat cancer in the brain, liver and lungs without surgery through radiation.
Dr. Shivaji Poudel, Executive Director of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, said that medical physicists and radiation oncologists exchanged experiences and skills in the workshop attended by experts from different countries. According to him, even though the hospital had the necessary equipment for radiation, it was difficult to use this chemical technology due to lack of proper training of the human resources to use it. He said that the workshop will help in effectively advancing cancer treatment through new technology.
According to Dr. Ranjan Bhakta Bhandari, Head of the Radiotherapy Department at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, the clinical implementation of SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery), SRT (Stereotactic Radiation Therapy) and SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) was facilitated through experience exchange between medical physicists and radiation oncologists and training provided by experts.
Stating that the workshop will benefit Nepal’s medical and healthcare workers, he mentioned that participants came from various cancer hospitals in Nepal. The training, titled Hands-on Workshop, was organized by the South Asia Center for Medical Physicists and Cancer Research Center (SCMPCR).
Suresh Poudel, a medical physicist at the hospital, said, “This workshop is of European standard and has been recognized accordingly.” He said that they will gain additional experience from foreign experts by presenting the skills and expertise they have learned. He added, “This workshop will provide additional quality to Nepal’s cancer treatment system.”
Participants and experts from Nepal, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, India, Bangladesh and other countries have participated in the workshop. There are 42 participants and seven foreign experts in the workshop.
Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha, Vice-Chairman of the Medical Education Commission, said that the number of medical physicists in Nepal is very low and said that this kind of training is important. He stressed that the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital of Nepal should introduce its educational program.
On that occasion, German citizen Prof. Dr. Golam Abu Zakaria, founder of the South Asia Center for Medical Physicists and Cancer Research Center (SCMPCR), said that the workshop was important for Nepal and that the local doctors and health workers had gained knowledge of new technologies.
The director of the organization, Bangladeshi citizen Hasin Anupama Azari, said that the workshop facilitated the exchange of knowledge and skills among the participants. She said that they had conducted the eighth workshop in Nepal and had previously conducted such workshops in various countries.
Surendra Bahadur Chand, Medical Physicist-in-Charge of BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, said that they have started SRS (Stereotactic Radio Surgery) and this workshop has given them additional knowledge. He said, “We will learn how it is being used in countries including Europe and use it accordingly.”
Dr. Vijayraj Neupane, Chairman of the Hospital Board of Directors, said that medical physicists play an important role in radiation (SEC) treatment of cancer and that this workshop will make the treatment here more quality and effective. The workshop will conclude on Sunday.
