Army Hospital R&R commissions modern radiotherapy tech for advanced cancer care
New Delhi, May 25
A Ring Gantry-based Linear Accelerator was commissioned into the Department of Radiation Oncology at Army Hospital Research & Referral, Delhi, to strengthen cancer care services and improve access to advanced radiotherapy for serving personnel, veterans and their dependents, an official statement said on Monday.
It is expected to enhance in-house treatment capacity for the significant patient load at the hospital, the statement from the Ministry of Defence said.
The Linear Accelerator is capable of delivering modern radiotherapy techniques including Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, Image-Guided Radiation Therapy, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
It enables precise delivery of radiation to tumour sites while minimising exposure to surrounding normal tissues, thereby supporting improved treatment outcomes and patient care.
The procurement of the Linear Accelerator within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) is a substantial upgrade from the previous equipment which has, since, been decommissioned.
The induction marks a step towards the modernisation of oncology services within AFMS, the statement noted, adding that other oncology centres under AFMS are also being upgraded in a phased manner.
The Ophthalmology Department at the Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR) had been in news in 2025 for successfully performing India's first-ever 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent, combining advanced imaging with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
The integration of 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent, a Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery had set a new benchmark in glaucoma care, ensuring enhanced intraoperative imaging and better long-term results.
In August 2025, AHRR became the first government institute in India and the second in South Asia to perform Robotic Custom Laser Cataract Surgery using the state-of-the-art ALLY Adaptive Cataract Treatment System.
The achievement marked the Ophthalmology Department's successful entry into the frontier of robotic, bladeless, and computer-guided eye surgery with its first-ever Femto-second Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS).
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's good to see the government investing in defence healthcare. But why are such advanced facilities limited to the Army Hospital at R&R? Many other AFMS centres also need upgrades. Let's hope the phased modernisation mentioned actually happens soon.
As a former soldier, I'm very happy to see this. The previous equipment was quite outdated. My colleague who battled cancer last year had to go to a private hospital in Delhi. Hopefully, this new machine will save more lives at a lower cost for our veterans.
Remarkable progress! India's defence medical teams are truly world-class. First the 3D eye surgery and now this linear accelerator. Our soldiers and their families are getting the best, which is what they truly deserve. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Very impressed! But I wish such advanced tech was also available in civilian government hospitals across smaller cities. Cancer treatment in India is still very expensive for common people. These machines need to be replicated in district hospitals too.
It's heartening to see the government focusing on modernising oncology services in military hospitals. Cancer doesn't discriminate, and our brave soldiers and their families deserve the best possible care. This new tech will certainly improve survival rates. 🎯
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