Govt Signs MoU With Tata Memorial Centre For Setting Up Cancer Hospital Near Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Health and Family Welfare department of Odisha government on Wednesday signed an MoU with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai for establishment of a state-of-the-art Cancer Hospital in NISER campus at Jatni near Bhubaneswar.

Director of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai Dr Rajendra Badwi and Special Secretary, Public Health Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty signed the MoU at Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhawan.

As per the agreement, Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre under the Department of Atomic Energy will establish a 200-bed hospital and run it with a proposed cost of Rs 650 crore. The Department of Atomic Energy has earmarked Rs 400 crore for the project whereas Tata Trusts will spend Rs 250 crore.

Presently, NISER is providing 17 acre of land for the project. The state government will provide another 40 acre for future expansion of the facility to establish 30MeV Cyclotron, staff quarters, township and academic blocks, rest sheds for patients’ attendants and Dharmasala.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was present at the MoU signing event, said the hospital would be immensely helpful for the people of Odisha. The state government will provide a Cyclotron Machine to meet the requirements for radio isotopes for treatment as suggested by Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, he added.

He thanked Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and NISER for their support and cooperation. This institution will be an excellent example of cooperation among private sector, state government, Central government and research institutions in the service of people, he said.

Health Minister Naba Das, Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner, Director, NISER and Director, NHM and senior officers were present.

The project will have 3 founding principles – Service, Education and Research.

Under the service component, this institution will offer state of art treatment to people of Odisha so that cancer patients do not have to travel outside the state. The institution will run a full spectrum of oncological education and para medical courses to create skilled manpower for the entire eastern part of India.

It will collaborate with NISER to conduct translational research for unique cancers of Odisha. The hospital will also help the state establish robust systems for affordable cancer care and control.

There will be provisions of all advanced cancer care such as Surgical Oncology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Pathology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Preventive Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nuclear Medicine etc.

The TMC will provide technical support to strengthen the Cancer Care wings in Mayurbhanj and Ganjam districts. The TMC will integrate this Cancer Hospital with National Cancer Grid of TMC, Mumbai.

The Cancer Hospital-Bhubaneswar will be empanelled by the states government under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).

According to official data, nearly 40,000 new cancer patients are detected and around 18,000 cancer deaths are reported in Odisha every year.