First patient, a landless farmer, treated free-of-cost on Friday
HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, April 29: OPD services of the newly set up Tezpur Cancer Center at Bihaguri, near here started from Friday just after a day of inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A landless farmer was registered as the first patient of the center and was treated free of cost. The doctors at the center attended to eleven patients on the first day of its opening. During the time of virtual inauguration on Thursday, Tezpur MP Pallab Lochan Das, minister Ashok Singhal, Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika, Rangapara MLA Krisna Kamal Tanti, Borsola MLA Ganesh Kumar Limbu, Tezpur MLA Prithiraj Rabha & other dignitaries virtually joined the programme and witnessed a historic day in Assam’s health Infrastructure from Tezpur Cancer Center.
It is to be mentioned here that a 42-year-old landless farmer from Bordubi, Thelamara of Sonitpur district was all thankful and full of gratitude as he walked out of Tezpur Cancer Centre after consulting with the doctors on Friday. He was the first patient at the Tezpur Cancer Centre which opened its OPD services on Friday. The farmer was diagnosed with a case of carcinoma colon and was operated at Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute in 2021. He is the only earning member of his family which comprises his mother, wife and two children. A landless farmer, he can no longer work now due to fatigue. He was unable to go to Guwahati for further treatment due to severe financial constraints. He had to spend nearly Rs 4,500 for every visit during his evaluation and treatment, which used to be twice a week.
On Friday, he was the first patient to be registered at Tezpur Cancer Centre and he had to only pay an amount of Rs 10 for registration. His consultation fees were waived and medicines were provided free of cost. He was given the required consultation and further treatment has been planned. His future treatment costs will be covered under Atal Amrit Abhiyan/ Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. He expressed his gratitude that he no longer has to go to Guwahati for therapy.
The L3 centre at Tezpur is a day care centre which will cater to patients who do not require admission or surgery and need treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.
The centre is equipped with all the modern diagnostic equipment like X-ray, Mammography, CT Scan, MRI, Bronchoscopy, etc., along with a Haematological and Biochemical Laboratory for testing of blood and urine. A cancer patient can now get Radiation and Chemotherapy within Tezpur and will no longer have to travel outside the district for treatment. For radiation Brachytherapy and LINAC units have been installed which are the most advanced in the world today and sufficient infrastructure for administration of Chemotherapy drugs are also available.






