Assam govt, Tata Trusts to set up 19 cancer hospitals
In order to provide better treatment to cancer patients in the state, the Assam government in association with Tata Trusts launched an inclusive cancer care initiative here on Monday.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and chairman of Tata Trusts Ratan Tata laid the foundation stone of 19 hospitals to be set up across the state as part of a ₹2,000-plus crore project called Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF).
The first of its kind initiative in the country will create a threelevel cancer grid where the new hospitals will provide standardised and affordable treatment to patients closer to their homes.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), nearly 32,000 new cancer cases are reported from the state every year. Some say the figure could
GUWAHATI:
be much more as many patients go outside Assam for better treatment.
The new project involves setting up of a South East Asia Cancer Research Institute in Guwahati, a Level One facility in Dibrugarh, 12 Level Two centres with comprehensive oncology services and five Level Three centres with screening, diagnostic and day care services.
“This part of the country has the highest incidents of cancer in India. It’s very laudable of the administration of the state and the support given by the government of India to address this silent killer as though we are fighting a war,” Ratan Tata said.
Tata Trusts would be contributing Rs 900 crore for the project, the state government’s share would be Rs 1,030 crores and the Centre will contribute ₹180 crore.