Army Hospital Introduces Advanced Radiation Machine To Strengthen Cancer Care

In a major boost to cancer treatment services, the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in the national capital has introduced an advanced ring gantry-based Linear Accelerator machine for more accurate and modern radiotherapy treatment.

The new machine was commissioned in the hospital’s Department of Radiation Oncology in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Officials said the technology will help improve cancer diagnosis and treatment for serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their dependents.

The advanced Linear Accelerator is expected to significantly strengthen the hospital’s cancer care facilities by enabling precise targeting of tumours while reducing damage to nearby healthy tissues. Doctors say this will improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects for patients undergoing radiation therapy.

According to officials, the machine can perform several modern radiotherapy procedures, including Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS).

These advanced techniques allow doctors to deliver highly focused radiation doses directly to cancerous tissues with greater accuracy. This is especially important for tumours located near sensitive organs, where conventional radiation may affect surrounding healthy areas.

An official statement from the Defence Ministry said the technology “enables precise delivery of radiation to tumour sites while minimising exposure to surrounding normal tissues, thereby supporting improved treatment outcomes and patient care.”

The installation of the new system also marks the replacement of older equipment previously used for cancer screening and radiation treatment at the hospital.

Experts believe the induction of the Linear Accelerator within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) represents a major technological upgrade in military healthcare infrastructure. The AFMS provides medical care to serving personnel of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with ex-servicemen and their families.

Officials said similar upgrades are planned in phases across other oncology centres run by the Armed Forces.

“The induction marks a step towards modernisation of oncology services within AFMS. Other oncology centres under AFMS are also being upgraded in a phased manner,” an official said.

Cancer specialists note that advanced radiotherapy technologies are becoming increasingly important as cancer cases continue to rise across India. Precision-based radiation systems can help reduce treatment duration, improve tumour control, and lower complications, especially in complex cancers involving the brain, spine, lungs, or prostate.

The new machine is also expected to improve the hospital’s ability to manage its growing patient load by increasing in-house treatment capacity and reducing waiting time for radiotherapy sessions.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior officials, including DG AFMS Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Commandant, Army Hospital (R&R), Lieutenant General Avinash Das, and other senior officials.

Medical experts said that access to modern cancer treatment technologies remains uneven in many parts of the country. The expansion of advanced oncology infrastructure in government and defence hospitals could help improve access to quality treatment for a larger number of patients.

With the addition of the new Linear Accelerator, the Army Hospital (R&R) is expected to further strengthen its role as one of the country’s leading tertiary care centres for cancer management within the Armed Forces healthcare system.