Missing needle: TDP contests Minister's claim

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 23. Mystery surrounds the 73-mci capacity radioactive needle missing from the MNJ Cancer Hospital here since June 26.

The official stand that the Celsium-137 needle, 1.6 cm long, was swept into the drainage system while being inserted into the uterus of a cancer patient was contested, by two Telugu Desam members -- Dr. Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and Dr. Divi Sivaram -- both practising doctors, in the Assembly on Wednesday. They had a wordy duel with the Health Minister, Dr. S. Aruna, also a doctor.

Dr Sivaprasda Rao disputed the Health Minister's statement that the needle becoming a health hazard to public could be ruled out as it was of "second level" radioactivity. He felt it must have been stolen by ``a technical and knowledgeable person.'' It should be noted that the needle was missing along with the container, he said, adding it might have gone to private hospitals. While he demanded a thorough search of the private hospitals forthwith, Dr Sivaram blamed "some vested interests" for the incident.

Dr. Aruna said a search made under the supervision of Dr D. R. Singh of Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad, local representative of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, in the hospital as also the dumping yard of clinical waste at Golconda and the residential area. She said the needle costs Rs 8,000-10,000 and that it, being of a second level, would become no health hazard to anybody exposed to it. It could neither be sold away in the market nor used for making explosives. Even after this loss, the hospital was left with 26 needles. There were 26 such missing cases in the country so far, and in 11 instances, recovery was made.

Dr Sivaram dismissed the Minister's theory as "absurd" on the ground that the needle was ``powerful.'' Whether visible or invisible, it could prove dangerous to public who might go near it without knowing its presence.

Dr Aruna told the legislators that steps would be taken to computerise such needles hereafter with remote control facility and thus avoid manual operation, at a cost of Rs 1.2 crores. Referring to the criticism by members that the premier institute was "headless", she said a full-time director would be appointed soon after the governing council meeting of the hospital. A safety committee was formed and treatment of cancer patients restarted following clearance from the BARC.

On the criticism that those responsible for the missing were had been allowed to go scot free, the Minister said an enquiry was on by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and punitive action would follow once it submitted its report.

Mr R. Ravindranath Reddy, BJP, a doctor, said the incident had two aspects -- medical and criminal as the needle had both ``curative'' and causative aspects.

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