A linear accelerator (LINAC) meant to expand advanced cancer treatment in Madhya Pradesh has reached the Government Cancer Hospital in Indore, bringing the state-run facility closer to offering precision radiation therapy locally.The machine, valued at about ₹47 crore according to hospital officials, has arrived in 33 wooden boxes containing its components. A dedicated radiation-shielded bunker has already been prepared at the new cancer hospital being developed under MGM Medical College.The machine is not yet available for patient treatment. Installation, electrical and finishing work, calibration, safety checks and commissioning will have to be completed before radiation therapy can begin.The development is particularly significant for patients who currently need LINAC-based treatment but cannot access it at a government facility in Indore.
AIIMS Bhopal has been the key government option
AIIMS Bhopal currently operates a LINAC-based radiotherapy service and was described by the Union Health Ministry in 2025 as the only government institution in Madhya Pradesh with this advanced technology at that time. The institute said it was treating around 70-80 cancer patients a day using its LINAC system.That concentration of advanced radiation-treatment capacity has meant that patients from other parts of the state may have to travel to Bhopal or use private facilities.The arrival of a LINAC in Indore could therefore make a significant difference for patients from western Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring areas.The Government Cancer Hospital is officially listed under MGM Medical College, with Prof. Dr Ramesh Arya as superintendent and MD in Radiation Oncology.
Why a LINAC is different
A linear accelerator produces high-energy X-rays or electrons that can be shaped and directed towards a tumour. Modern radiotherapy planning allows doctors to deliver the prescribed radiation dose to the target while reducing unnecessary exposure to nearby healthy tissue.The technology can support advanced radiation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiotherapy, depending on the machine, treatment-planning system and other infrastructure available at the centre.The Union Health Ministry has similarly described LINAC treatment as a precision approach that targets tumours while limiting radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.This does not mean that every cancer patient will need or benefit from a LINAC. The appropriate radiation technique depends on the type, location and stage of cancer and the treatment plan decided by the oncology team.
The bunker is essential before treatment can start
A LINAC cannot simply be installed inside an ordinary hospital room.High-energy radiation requires a specially designed bunker with adequate shielding to protect patients, medical staff and people in surrounding areas. The facility also requires treatment-planning, dosimetry and radiation-safety systems before patients can be treated.Hospital superintendent Dr Ramesh Arya said installation work had begun in one of the two bunkers constructed at the hospital.The initial work includes installation of the base plate, electrical work, interior finishing and other technical requirements. The machine is expected to take around two months to install, after which commissioning and the necessary checks will be required.
Why the arrival matters for Indore
The Government Cancer Hospital treats a large number of patients every year, including people travelling from outside Indore.According to the hospital, around 20,000 patients receive treatment there annually, with patients also coming from areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat.Until now, the absence of a LINAC at the state-run Indore facility has limited access to this form of advanced external-beam radiation treatment.The difference is particularly important for patients who cannot afford private treatment. The supplied hospital figures put the cost of LINAC-based treatment in private facilities at roughly ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh, depending on the treatment.Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries may be eligible for covered cancer treatment subject to the applicable package and hospital conditions.
A long-standing gap in MP's government cancer care
The arrival of the Indore machine is also part of a broader effort to expand LINAC capacity across Madhya Pradesh.In February 2026, reporting on the state's cancer-care infrastructure noted that AIIMS Bhopal was the only public facility with a LINAC, while the state had been working on installing machines at government medical colleges.A subsequent April 2026 report said LINAC installations were planned for government medical colleges in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Rewa, but purchase orders had not yet been issued at that stage.The Indore delivery therefore marks a move from the planning stage to physical installation, although patient services will depend on completion of the remaining technical and regulatory processes.
The new cancer hospital is still under construction
The LINAC is being installed as part of the new cancer hospital infrastructure at MGM Medical College.The new facility is planned as a 321-bed hospital, with facilities including a dedicated LINAC bunker, HDR brachytherapy and a CT system for radiotherapy planning, according to the information provided by the hospital.The hospital building itself, however, has faced delays.The project was expected to be completed within two years after its 2023 target, but construction remains incomplete more than two and a half years later. This creates a second deadline for the project: not only must the expensive machine be installed safely, but the surrounding hospital infrastructure must also be ready to support a full radiation-oncology service.
What happens next?
The immediate task is installation of the LINAC and completion of associated electrical, interior and technical work.After installation, the machine will need to undergo commissioning, calibration and radiation-safety procedures before clinical use. Patients should therefore not assume that the machine is already available for treatment simply because it has reached the hospital.If the remaining work is completed as planned, Indore will gain an important new government option for advanced radiation treatment, reducing the need for some patients to travel to Bhopal or depend on private centres.
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