HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 7: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the government has constituted high-quality cancer care centres to offer treatment at an affordable cost in the state.
Taking to X, Sarma wrote, “Today is National Cancer Awareness Day; a day to spread awareness about the disease and dispel rumours surrounding it. With advancement in medical science, cancer treatment has evolved and there are high chances of recovery for patients.”
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“In Assam, through the ACCF, we have set up high quality centres to diagnose, treat and manage cancer patients and give them the joy of life at an affordable cost,” he added.
The state government is spending at least Rs 135 crores to Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) for the construction of four cancer hospitals across the state.
A total of 10 cancer hospitals will be built in phase-wise manner with three cancer hospitals coming up in the first phase and the rest in the second phase.
In the first phase of hospitals being built in Silchar, Guwahati, and Diphu; seven cancer hospitals will open in Dhubri, Nalbari, Goalpara, Golaghat, Nagaon, Sivasagar, and Tinsukia during the second phase.
The chief minister said that the cancer care model of Assam has been followed by other states in the country.
He said, “The entire nation is attempting to emulate Assam. In order to make Assam a nodal state for cancer care, we are considering improving this project.”
Meanwhile, Sarma earlier inaugurated a cancer care unit at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH).
Three categories of cancer care units—of which the one at SMCH is in category 2 and will offer patients comprehensive care—are being established in government-run hospitals across the state, Sarma explained.
“The apex cancer care hospital, a lone category 1 facility, is opening at Guwahati,” Sarma added.
The project will cost Rs 2,460 crore from the state government, Rs 1,180 crore from Tata Trusts, Rs 180 crore from the Indian government, and more than Rs 80 crore from contributions.
The facilities will be run by the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, which has been established to oversee them.
The chief minister stated that should there be an income shortfall at the end of the year, the state government will step in to cover it.
He said, “There are currently ten such cancer care centres in operation, and over 2.15 lakh patients have received treatment there.”
