Infrastructure
Introduction
In comparison with other branches of medicine, radiation oncology is highly dependent on physical infrastructure and equipment. Most people in Australia who have radiotherapy are treated with megavoltage X-rays produced by a linear accelerators (linacs).
The Tripartite National Strategic Plan utilised linacs as a basic unit of resource availability and projected the numbers of linacs required to meet the increase in cancer incidence numbers.
The importance of imaging in the delivery of quality radiotherapy and a range of essential radiotherapy techniques has also been considered.
Linacs require a number of important accompanying resources, which are not specifically assessed in the Plan, including:
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Radiation-proof bunkers
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Expansion pathways
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IT infrastructure and information systems
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Access to imaging modalities and other cancer treatments.