Thu Mar 27 16:01:59 UTC 2025: **Chennai Government Hospital Pioneers Total Body Irradiation Treatment for Leukemia**
CHENNAI, March 27, 2025 – Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) has become the first government hospital in Tamil Nadu to offer Total Body Irradiation (TBI) treatment for leukemia patients. The treatment, a crucial step before Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), was initiated this week for a 15-year-old girl battling relapsed B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
The TBI treatment utilizes a Linear Accelerator, equipment acquired by the hospital in 2020. Recently, specialized instruments and accessories costing ₹6 lakh were purchased under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) to facilitate this procedure. The process involves two daily radiation sessions for three days to sterilize the bone marrow and prepare the patient for BMT. The hospital’s Department of Radiation Physics plays a key role in treatment planning and delivery verification.
Previously, RGGGH patients requiring TBI were referred to private hospitals, where the treatment costs approximately ₹1 lakh. Now, under CMCHIS, this life-saving procedure is available at no cost to eligible patients at RGGGH. The hospital’s Dean, E. Theranirajan, and Professor and Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology, T.N. Vijayasree, highlighted the significance of this development, emphasizing the accessibility and affordability of this advanced treatment for leukemia patients within the public healthcare system.
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