Kingston, Jamaica. Friday, November 8, 2024: More than 54,000 patients with cancer at
the St. Joseph’s Hospital (SJH) have been treated since 2018 using its state-of-the-art Clinica
Varian Linear Accelerator (Linac). This advanced external beam radiation therapy system,
purchased by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) at a cost of USD 4.8 million,
employs innovative techniques such as 3D Conformal and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy
(IMRT).
This ensures delivery of precise cancer treatment while protecting surrounding healthy tissue. The technology is designed to effectively treat a variety of cancers, including those of the prostate, breast, cervical, rectal, and brain, as well as tumors in the limbs and skin.
To ensure continuous, high-quality care SJH has taken proactive steps to minimize downtime
for the Linac machine, ensuring patients receive timely treatment. Dr. Dutris Bourne,
Regional Consultant Clinical Coordinator at the National Cancer Treatment Centre, SJH,
outlined several key measures implemented to maintain the machine’s optimal performance:
Quarterly Preventative Maintenance: quarterly checks by service contractor, Varian via
agent Global Medica who has local engineers in Jamaica.
Local Engineer Training: Biomedical engineers from MOHW are trained to
troubleshoot and resolve general issues with the Linac machine.
Spare Parts Availability: Local availability of commonly needed spare parts.
Supportive Infrastructure: The hospital is equipped with a dedicated generator and
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) batteries to safeguard against power outages and
surges.
Expanded Spare Parts Storage: Planned introduction of more extensive spare parts
storage on site to completed in next six months.
As part of the Jamaican government’s continued investment in healthcare, SJH is being
redeveloped into a Centre of Excellence for Oncology and Nephrology. This transformation
will allow the hospital to expand its services and provide specialized, enhanced
compassionate care in both oncology and nephrology, functioning as an extension of the
Kingston Public Hospital. SJH is one of the specialist hospitals under the management of the
South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA).
Clinica- Varian Linear Accelerator, which provides treatment by utilizing external beam radiation.
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