Silchar Cancer Centre inaugurated by Chief Minister

way2barak, March 1 :  Silchar Cancer Centre is inaugurated today by the Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. It is a  unit of Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), an initiative of the Government of Assam and the Tata Trusts. The inauguration marked a significant milestone in the advancement of affordable and accessible cancer care in the region.
The event was graced by key dignitaries of the Government of Assam – Shri Keshab Mahanta, Minister, Medical Education & Research, Health & Family Welfare etc; Shri Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister, Transport, Fisheries, Excise, etc; Shri Ashok Singhal, Minister, Housing & Urban Affairs, etc; Dr Rajdeep Roy, MP, Silchar; Shri Dipayan Chakraborty, MLA, Silchar; Shri Mihir Kanti Shome, MLA, Udharbond; Shri Kaushik Rai, MLA, Lakhipur; Shri Misbahul Islam Laskar, MLA, Borkhola; Shri Khalil Uddin Mazumdar, MLA, Katigora; Shri Karimuddin Barbhuyan, MLA, Sonai.
The project costing Rs 265 crores, is a 130-bedded hospital and is equipped with advanced cancer care facilities and modern diagnostics including specialized departments such as Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Nuclear Medicine, Critical Care, Radiology, Anaesthesiology, Endoscopy Services, Emergency Services, Blood Centre, Laboratory Services, and Tele-Health Services. The hospital is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator machine, MRI, CT-Sim, Brachytherapy, modern laboratory, Blood Bank and other facilities. The hospital will also be equipped with PET-CT in the coming days.
Inspired by the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to make cancer care affordable and accessible to all, Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma conceptualised the setting up of the largest cancer care network in South Asia. The Government of Assam in collaboration with the Tata Trusts will establish 17 cancer care hospitals across Assam. Seven of the Hospitals at Barpeta, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Kokrajhar, and Darrang were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on April 28, 2022 and since then the hospitals have provided services to more than 46000 patients till date. The uniqueness of the initiative is world-class cancer care with cashless treatment under the flagship healthcare schemes of the Central and State Government like PMJAY and MMJAY. In addition, all ACCF hospital rates are capped at CGHS rates making it affordable for patients who are paying out of pocket.
Silchar being the eighth centre, the apex centre at State Cancer Institute, Guwahati will be inaugurated on 2 March 2024. By the end of this year, Diphu Cancer Centre will be ready to serve the people of Karbi Anglong and neighbouring areas. The foundation stone of another seven hospitals has been laid for Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Nagaon, Dhubri, Goalpara and Nalbari. These projects are at the initial stage of construction.
Barak Valley, with a population of over 36 lakh people, has witnessed a concerning rise in the number of cancer patients. Silchar Cancer Centre aims to address this issue and contribute to the rapid development of the healthcare sector in the region and the entire nation. The Centre, along with its advanced infrastructure, aims to become a centre of excellence for advanced and affordable cancer care treatment in the entire state. With a focus on regular health check-ups, screenings, and awareness of early detection, the centre is poised to bring a wave of development to the healthcare sector.