AIIMS Raipur has introduced a five-bedded high-dose therapy ward, making it the first such facility in the state of Chhattisgarh and among the newly established AIIMS under the PMSSY scheme. Iodine-131 therapy, used in this high-dose therapy, employs beta radiation to treat and destroy remaining cancer cells after surgery. The radiation is specifically targeted at the thyroid gland and metastatic areas, ensuring minimal impact on the rest of the body. The therapy, which ranges from 30mCi to 200mCi of Iodine-131, is offered at affordable rates at the institute. The first patient was successfully treated in March under the expert supervision of the Nuclear Medicine Department, led by Dr Mudalsha Ravina(In-charge & Associate Professor),Dr. Shobhana Raju (Assistant Professor), and Sai Shiv Narayan (Radiation Safety Officer).

 

To date, eight patients have been treated, with plans to increase the number of patients treated each month in an affordable manner. Lt Gen Ashok Kumar Jindal, Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Raipur, congratulated the department for achieving this milestone, emphasizing that this facility will significantly benefit thyroid cancer patients, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in and around the state. Previously, patients had to travel to Delhi or Mumbai for such treatments. Prof. Dr. RenuRajguru, Medical Superintendent and Head of the ENT Department, highlighted that this new addition to the hospital’s services will support the comprehensive management of thyroid cancer patients. She mentioned that the facility regularly treats numerous thyroid cancer patients, and the inclusion of radioiodine therapy will enhance treatment options.

 

Dr. Nitin Borker, Additional Medical Superintendent, also congratulated the department on this achievement. The high-dose therapy ward at AIIMS Raipur has been built under the guidance of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and has received the necessary approvals and licenses. AIIMS Raipur’s Nuclear Medicine Department is the only such facility in any government hospital in the state. It is equipped with advanced technology, including SPECT-CT, PET-CT, robotic navigation systems for PET-guided biopsies, low-dose therapies, and a radioiodine uptake probe. This new facility marks a significant step forward in providing affordable, specialized treatment for thyroid cancer patients in Chhattisgarh.