The original article can be found in: Trinidad Guardian By Rhonda Krystal Rambally
The deputy chairman of the Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre, Dr KongSheik Achong Low, says the centre has nothing to hide surrounding the alleged radiation overdose administered to 218 cancer patients who were seeking treatment at the Woodbrook facility between June 2009 and June 2010. He said he was satisfied with yesterday’s meeting with Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan and other ministry officials to determine what led to the alleged overdose. Achong Low said there would be further talks but declined to sat whether any decision were made. He added: “I can reiterate to all of you here, the centre has nothing to hide. “We have never hidden anything and today (yesterday) we had a very open and frank discussion with the ministry, he said. A few days ago, Khan said there may be a commission of enquiry into the possible radiation overdose. Speaking with reporters at the lobby of the Ministry of Health, Achong Low said: “Today’s (yesterday’s) meeting was a very good meeting.” He did not want to divulge details, saying it was best for the ministry’s representatives to do so. However, Khan did not speak to the media.
When contacted, he said a statement would be released and that it would speak for itself. Achong Low is also chairman of Medcorp Ltd, a healthcare holding company, comprising the St Clair Medical Centre, GoodHealth Medical Centre, the Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre, Doctors Radiology Centre and the Austin Street Clinic. On July 6 last year, Khan announced the findings of an investigation launched by the Pan American Health Organisation into the clinical and calibration procedures of a linear accelerator relating to a suspected radiation-dose incident at the centre. The report was submitted in September 2010. Khan then told the media there was the possibility that 223 cancer patients could face the effects of radiation resulting from a possible miscalibration of the linear accelerator. However, Achong Low said last year it was 218 patients.
According to its Web site, the centre is a state-of-the-art facility that came into existence because of the need for cancer treatment in T&T and has treated 750 patients since its inception in April 2007. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was hired to do an investigation to determine the cause of conflicting miscalibration reports on a Varian 23 iX linear accelerator. Achong Low said it was not up to the centre to decide on a commission of enquiry. He said: “Whatever the ministry decides, I think it’s going to be in the interest of everybody because I think they understand, as much as possible, what has happened and I think they are dealing with the real issues at hand.” He added that the matter was prolonged but that it was not up to him to decide what had to be on the forefront of the news. Also seen leaving the ministry were the centre’s clinical director/consultant oncologist Dr Peter Bovell and one of its directors, Dr Dinesh Mor.
Ministry: Proper investigation to be done
The Ministry of Health yesterday assured that a “proper investigation” would be done into the alleged overdose, saying it was in keeping with the Government’s vision of people-centred development. A statement said a mission from the IAEA visited T&T between last January 23 and 27 to medically examine and assess ten per cent of the over-exposed patients and provide advice on the medical treatment to be administered to them. The statement added that the ministry would implement the recommendations made by the IAEA mission and engage its services to return to conduct a formal accident report to determine the consequences of any unintended event, including operating errors, equipment failures and other mishaps. The ministry did not mention any matters discussed at yesterday’s meeting with officials of the centre.
