Experiences of working in Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Nepal

Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH) is the only charitable cancer hospital in Nepal and currently treats approximately 5,000 new patients per annum. Rotary International donated a new cobalt-60 radiotherapy treatment unit in 1999, which treats up to 60 patients per day. There is a lack of specialist training for radiographers, medical physicists and engineers. This lack of expertise means routine quality assurance checks were not performed and more complex treatments could not be calculated. The old and second-hand equipment in conjunction with the advanced stage of the patients’ cancer also means complex techniques were often not suitable. Issues of donated equipment, training of all associated staff groups and safety need to be addressed when involved in healthcare in developing countries. Giving complex second hand equipment to a developing country may create more problems than it solves. It is essential that the knowledge and expertise of all staff is increased to operate the equipment safely and to enable more complex techniques to be used. Other factors including poor electrical supply and quantity of patients need to be considered.