Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced that a state-of-the-art Cancer Care Centre (CCC) is being established at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College (Dr. RKGMC), Hamirpur, to strengthen cancer treatment facilities in the state.
The Chief Minister said the Cancer Care Centre would comprise 11 specialised departments to provide comprehensive and advanced care to cancer patients. These include Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pain Palliation, Nuclear Medicine, Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Onco-Pathology, Pediatric Oncology, Radiology Imaging, Gynaecological Oncology, and Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation.
He said the Centre would help create a robust and integrated cancer treatment system at a time when the population is facing an increasing cancer risk. Various studies have underlined the need for systematic screening, prevention, monitoring and timely intervention, making it essential to strengthen linkages from primary healthcare to tertiary-level cancer care institutions.
With a focus on prevention, early detection and comprehensive patient support, the state government has initiated the establishment of a State Cancer Centre at Hamirpur, and necessary steps in this direction have already been taken by the Department of Medical Education, he added.
The proposed State Cancer Institute will be housed in a multi-storey building with a capacity of 264 beds dedicated to cancer patients. The ground floor will accommodate key facilities including clinical laboratories, OPDs, pharmacy, emergency services, nuclear medicine OPD and registration counters. The government will also ensure the deployment of adequate and qualified medical, paramedical and support staff for smooth functioning of the institute.
Highlighting healthcare reforms, the Chief Minister said that since assuming office, the government has undertaken major initiatives to modernize the state’s healthcare system, replacing outdated equipment with world-class facilities comparable to AIIMS, Delhi. Expressing concern over Himachal Pradesh recording one of the highest cancer incidence rates in the country after the North-Eastern states, he said that establishing a high-end cancer care institution was crucial to ensure accessible and quality treatment for the people.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
