AIMS & OBJECTIVES
- To provide complete radiation oncology care to both adults and children.
- To incorporate all new proven cutting edge technological advancements in routine radiotherapy practice.
- To promote cancer awareness programs and early cancer detection activities in Oman.
- To actively involve in the establishment and support of palliative care activities centrally and peripherally.
- To run quality services to patients for their compliance, convenience and confidence to undergo treatment.
- To provide Continued Medical Education to students, nurses, undergraduates and medical community in Oman.
STAFF
Highly qualified and trained medical staff along with experienced medical physicists with the support of committed technical staff provides the backbone of service. The senior staff include:
Dr. Rajan Balakishnan, Sr. Consultant & Head
Dr. Zahid Al-Mandhari, Sr. Consultant & Deputy Head
Dr. Namrata Satayapal, Sr. Specialist
Dr. Pushkar Ingle, Specialist
Dr. Narayan Dutta, Specialist
Dr. R.Ravichandran, Chief Medical Physicist
Dr. C.A.Davis, Senior Medical Physicist
Dr. Saju Bhasi, Medical Physicist
Ms. Zakia Al Rahbi, Medical Physicist
Ms. Khalsa Ali Al Shikaly, Medical Physicist
Ms. Iqbal Abdullah Al Amri, Medical Physicist
Ms. Fatma Saleh Al Kindi, Medical Physicist
Mr. Binu Kumar, Dosimetrist
Radiotherapy Technical Staff - 10 
INFRASTRUCTURE LISTED AS PER WORKFLOW
Simulators
Radiotherapy Planning (Eclipse & iPlan linked to ARIA information system)
Brachytherapy planning (Plato)
Varian 2300 CD linear accelerator with photons dual energy, electrons, 120 leaf MLC
Varian 600EX linear accelerator with M3 Brain Lab micro MLC
HDR microSelectron I192 Brachytherapy
Dosimetery and medical physics equipments.
Mould Room for fabrication of casts and shields,
One operating theatre for brachytherapy services
Radiotherapy review, Dental and Day care rooms
Domiciliary services for patients from outside the capital inclusive of meals free of charge (including attendant).
SERVICES PROVIDED
The department provides state of the art services in teletherapy and brachytherapy using the following techniques: 3D CRT, IMRT, SRS, SRT, IGRT as well as HDR brachytherapy primarily for carcinoma cervix and uterus. There has been a linear increase in the number of patients utilizing the facilities. At present (2009) an average of 50-60 patients are treated daily using the linear accelerators. An average of 10-15 intracavitary brachy insertions are performed per month. The total number of out patient visits for 2009 was 9259. This is a steady increase of 20% when compared to 2008.
Currently 6 outpatient clinics per week are conducted catering for new patients, follow up care, as well as combined multidisciplinary clinics, in addition to daily review clinics for patients on treatment.
Simulation and planning sessions take place on a daily basis.
Since the National Oncology Center provides comprehensive cancer care, multidisciplinary clinics (gynaecology, head and neck, breast) have been initiated, bringing together surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to serve the patients in a single visit, planning all their immediate care appointments. Similar clinics with urology and neurosurgery are being setup in the near future.
MEETINGS AND CONTINUOUS MEDICAL EDUCATION
Weekly quality assurance and self-audit meetings are conducted, as well as monthly journal clubs/seminars and monthly joint oncology forums. The staff is also actively involved in the weekly tumor board meetings. Teaching is an integral part of the department and it provides sessions in radiation physics to the Radiology Oman Medical Specialty Board residents apart from various other teaching activities to medical students, residents, nurses and the general medical community. The Radiation Oncology department holds an international conference every two years. The first two were in 2007 and 2009, while the next is due in Feb 2011.
FUTURE PLANS
As part of a mandate to incorporate cutting edge technologies, the department is currently in the process of upgrading its equipment. The goal is incorporating technologies such as volumetric arc therapy, which can speed up treatment delivery times, especially in the context of increasing cancer patients. The IGRT capabilities are also being upgraded to increase the ease and accuracy of day-to-day treatments.
