New $6m radiation therapy machine installed at Wellington Hospital
Wellington Regional Hospital has installed a new $6 million linear accelerator machine to improve cancer treatment precision. While officials celebrate the upgrade, experts note that many New Zealanders still lack access to necessary radiation therapy due to historical under-investment.
Why it matters
It highlights the gap between technological advancements in healthcare and the systemic challenges of equitable medical access in public health systems.
Report from RNZ by Ellen O’Dwyer A multi-million dollar radiation therapy machine which can precisely target tumours has been installed at Wellington Regional Hospital.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the new linear accelerator – or LINAC machine – is the first of two coming to the hospital, replacing older machines which have reached the end of their life.
An organisation representing radiation oncologists said the development is great news, but hundreds of people are still missing out on radiation services throughout the country due to a history of under-invstment.
Radiation therapy is used to treat cancers including breast, prostate, lung, head and neck, and gynaecological cancers, and can relieve pain.
Brown said the cost of both LINAC machines for Wellington Hospital, including installation, is $12.6 million – with each machine costing around $6 million.
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