Esco equipment spotted at National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital
NICRH is the only specialized government institute and tertiary level cancer hospital in Bangladesh which was established in 1982 by the Government of Bangladesh. It started its indoor activities with 50 beds in 1992. The cobalt 60 machine was installed at this center in 1995. The Bangladesh government declared this center as a center of excellence in 2001. Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and Gynecological Oncology departments are functioning in this center since 1992.
Since the official opening of the department of Pharmacy till now, the institute has completed up gradation to 300 bedded center.
Former Honorable Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mohammad Nasim M.P. inaugurated the new dispensing unit on 19th April 2015. Since then, the pharmacy department of NICRH has been working on following standard operating procedures in carrying out compounding, dispensing, and administering of cytotoxic drugs using aseptic technology. The department processes the drug for more than approximately 300 patients per day. Therefore, laboratory equipment that provide the highest degree of safety and quality are essentially used.
In 2019, Md. Mahmudul Hoque, the pharmacist and the in charge of the pharmacy department of NICRH, has actively participated in the Esco Micro Pte Ltd. Factory Tour & Esco Pharma Product Presentations and Training for better understanding of the products and the manufacturing facilities.
Recently, the pharmacy department has established a new laboratory facility where they were the pioneer of installing 2 units of Esco Streamline Compounding Isolator in Bangladesh. Apart from that, previously they were the pioneer of installing Cytotoxic Safety Cabinets and maintaining a cleanroom facility in a pharmacy department of a hospital. From 2015 till now, the department is thriving to guide the future generation of leaders and innovators of healthcare system by improving technologies through constant research to provide engineered solutions.
The lab consists of the following Esco equipment: Cytoculture® Cytotoxic Safety Cabinet, Streamline® Compounding Isolator, Garment Storage Cabinet, Cleanroom Air Shower, Air shower Pass Boxes, Labculture® Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinets, and Airstream® Class II Biosafety Cabinets. These cabinets feature large performance envelope, airflow monitoring system to safeguard the operating condition, raised arm rest to prevent grille blocking, Isocide™ anti-microbial powder coating, and ULPA filters that‘s 10x more efficient than industry standard HEPA filter. The Esco cabinets and equipment were selected for providing the optimum combination of safety, efficiency, reliability, and ergonomics.
All the standard facilities required for diagnosis and treatment of cancer with a multidisciplinary approach are available at this center. Under the supervision of current director, NICRH is making great strides in offering leading-edge technologically advanced treatment with a warm compassionate touch.
Incorporating latest technology and equipment like Linear Accelerator with associated instruments, Radiation Oncology department is making a significant shift of the treatment approach towards more curative intent. To reach to a level of a Comprehensive Cancer Center, improvements in all other disciplines are also made with equal importance. The extension of the dispensing unit is presumed to be completed by the end of 2020.
