Assam govt signs pact for Rs 600cr proton therapy facility at GMCH, eyes affordable cancer care

Guwahati: Assam on Saturday signed an agreement with IBA Particle Therapy India Pvt Ltd to establish a proton beam therapy facility at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), marking a major step towards bringing one of the world’s most advanced cancer treatment technologies to the state’s public healthcare system.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the multi-crore project would be completed within three years, making Assam the first state in India to offer proton beam therapy through its public healthcare system.Sarma said proton therapy facilities were currently available at only two centres in India — Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Around 130 such centres are operational worldwide, he added.The Rs 600-crore project will be financed through a World Bank loan of Rs 315 crore, of which around Rs 270 crore will be repaid by the Centre, he said.“The Assam govt has entered into an important agreement with IBA Belgium to procure a proton beam therapy machine at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. The machine will cost Rs 600 crore,” Sarma told reporters after the agreement was signed.He said the facility would provide access to advanced cancer treatment at an affordable cost, with the govt committed to keeping treatment expenses to a minimum.In a social media post, Sarma said proton beam therapy has so far been available only at selected private hospitals in India, where treatment costs can go up to Rs 50 lakh.“Assam seeks to change that today. This advanced technology attacks tumours with pinpoint precision while sparing healthy tissues. For suitable patients, particularly children, that can make a significant difference,” he wrote.Proton beam therapy is particularly effective in treating certain cancers of the brain, spinal cord, eyes, head and neck. It can also benefit patients with cancers of the oesophagus, lungs, liver and breasts. Given the prevalence of these cancers in Assam and the northeast, Sarma said that the facility is expected to benefit patients across the region.The chief minister said proton beam therapy was among the most precise radiation treatment techniques currently available in the market.The state is also expanding its cancer care infrastructure, with 17 cancer hospitals being developed across Assam. Twelve of them are already functional.“Our ambition is clear: Assam will be a global centre for cancer care,” the chief minister said.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Guwahati | Silver Rate in Guwahati | Bank Holidays in Guwahati | Public Holidays in Guwahati | Guwahati AQI | Weather in Guwahati | Petrol Price in Guwahati | Diesel Price in Guwahati | CNG Price in Guwahati | LPG Price in GuwahatiStay updated with the latest Guwahati news. Download the TOI App.