Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday dedicated two state-of-the-art linear accelerators for radio therapy at Acharya Harihar Post-Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC) at Cuttack.
With this, the number of linear accelerators in the institute has gone up to four. The two Linac machines have been procured at a cost of Rs 38 crore.
The chief minister also inaugurated a 30-bed day-care unit at the institute, increasing the total beds to 42. The unit has been established at a cost of Rs 6 crore.
Inaugurating the two facilities virtually, the Chief Minister said, “Odisha has witnessed massive transformation in healthcare sector recently. Apart from strengthening infrastructure of various public health institutions and providing free quality healthcare under Biju Swathya Kalyan Yojana, the government is now focused to make the state a major centre of cancer care in eastern India.”
Besides infrastructure development for cancer care at public health institutions, the government is roping in private players to invest in the sector. Apart from Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre and Bagchi-Shankar Cancer Hospital in Bhubaneswar, a new cancer hospital is also coming up in Jharsuguda, he added.
Stating that cancer treatment is a highly expensive process, Naveen stressed on moral support for the patients and their family members. He asked the doctors to look into this aspect and create confidence in patients and relatives.
“With early diagnosis and treatment, cancer is curable. I appeal to the patients and their families to face this situation with a positive attitude. I am confident that we can conquer this disease with the support of all,” he said.
The chief minister said the entire cost of treatment for each patient attending AHPGIC will be borne by the government under various schemes. “The institute is on fast forward growth mode, providing quality service by an efficient workforce and state of the art equipment,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion Health & Family Welfare Minister Niranjan Pujari said AHPGIC is a centre of excellence in cancer treatment, education and research. The government is spending Rs 1,046 crore for free chemo-therapy and other facilities across the state, he added.
Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Souvik Biswal, secretary, Health & Family Welfare Salini Pandit and Director AHPGIC also spoke. Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian moderated the programme.
