INDIA – The Odisha government has signed an MOU with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai to establish 200 beds in a state of the modern Cancer hospital on the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) campus, Jatni in Khurda district.

Tata Memorial Centre Director Rajendra Badwi and Odisha’s Special Secretary Public Health, Ajit Kumar Mohanty signed the MoU in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Assuring all help on behalf of the state government, Naveen announced that the state government will provide a cyclotron machine to meet the requirements for radioisotopes for treatment as suggested by Rajendra Badwi, Director, Tata Memorial Centre.

He stated that the state government would provide the cyclotron system to meet the requirements of radioisotopes in treatment according to Tata Centre Director.

The Chief Minister stated that the institution would be a wonderful model of collaboration between the private sector, state government central government and research institutes in the interest of the people.

In expressing his delight over the idea of a Cancer centre, Patnaik said it will be extremely beneficial not just for the residents of Odisha but as well to the people of all of eastern India.

Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre which is part of the Department of Atomic Energy, will build a 200-bed hospital and operate it at a cost of around 700 crores (approximately US$88 million).

The Department of Atomic Energy has allocated the amount of Rs 400 crore (US$50.3 million) for this project while Tata Trusts will spend Rs 250 crore (US$31.4 million) on this venture according to officials.

Badwi declared that the Centre will conduct an analysis of the population to better understand the extent of the issue.

The new hospital is expected to offer the most advanced Cancer treatment like surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology radiology, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology, palliative and preventive oncology and nuclear medicine, among others.

The state government has given 17 acres of land to NISER and plans to provide an additional 40 acres to expand the scope of Cancer facilities, including 30 MeV cyclotrons, employee quarters, township and academic blocks, and rest for patient attendants’ sheds.

The new hospital is expected to offer the most advanced Cancer treatment like surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology radiology, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology, palliative and preventive oncology and nuclear medicine, among others.

The institution will run a full spectrum of oncological education and paramedical courses to create skilled manpower for the entire eastern part of India, said an official statement.

Under the service component, this institution will offer state of art treatment to the people of Odisha so that cancer patients do not have to travel outside the state.

The institution 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.

Around 4000 new Cancer patients are diagnosed and approximately 18,000 deaths from Cancer occur in Odisha each year.

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