The Assam Cancer Care Foundation has provided nearly 15 lakh patient services through its network of 12 specialised cancer care facilities across the state in about four years, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Sarma made the statement after chairing the board meeting and annual general meeting of the Assam Cancer Care Foundation on Thursday, September 24. According to the chief minister, the services delivered through the network include medical consultations, diagnostic tests, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and cancer surgeries. The network has been developed to make specialised cancer treatment more accessible to people across Assam.
Sarma said the expansion of cancer care facilities has helped patients receive treatment closer to their homes, reducing the need to travel outside the state for specialised care. “Behind this number are our people who received quality cancer care close to home, without having to leave Assam, as was often the case only a few years ago,” Sarma said in a social media post. The chief minister said the state government would continue to expand the cancer care network in the coming years. He said five more cancer hospitals are planned in different parts of the state as part of efforts to strengthen access to specialised treatment. Sarma also directed officials to expedite the construction of the proposed cancer care facilities in Dhubri, Nalbari, Nagaon, Sivasagar and Goalpara.
The expansion is aimed at increasing the availability of cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities beyond the existing network and ensuring that patients from different parts of Assam can access specialised services without having to travel long distances. The Assam Cancer Care Foundation is a joint initiative of the Assam government and Tata Trusts. The initiative seeks to establish a statewide network of cancer care facilities providing accessible and affordable treatment to patients. The foundation’s network has been developed as part of Assam’s efforts to strengthen cancer care infrastructure and improve access to treatment within the state. The latest figures indicate the scale of services delivered through the network since the facilities became operational.
