The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has issued licence to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai to operate the proton therapy facility for treating cancer patients.
The proton therapy facility, Proteus 235, is the first of its kind in India and South-East Asia. “The license is issued by AERB for patient treatment with proton beam of 226 MeV from radiation safety view point,” an official release from the regulatory board stated.
Though AERB has given licence to about 475 medical institutions to use radio therapy equipment, they are either gamma radiation-based tele-cobalt units or are X-ray-based linear accelerators.
Irradiating tissue
The proton beam therapy uses a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue, most often in the treatment of cancer, the release pointed out.
“The proton beam is specifically beneficial in treating paediatric cancers and deep-seated tumours more effectively than the conventional Gamma/X-ray radiation therapy,” the AERB observed.
The AERB ‘License for Operation’ was issued after approval at each stage i.e. design, layout, construction and commissioning of the facility.
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