Assam to establish India's first state-run proton therapy centre in Guwahati
The project involves an investment of approximately Rs 600 crore with support from the World Bank.
The Government of Assam signed an agreement with IBA Particle Therapy India Pvt. Ltd. on Saturday to establish a Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Guwahati. The agreement was signed at Lok Sewa Bhawan in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The project involves an investment of approximately Rs 600 crore, consisting of Rs 315 crore from the World Bank and Rs 285 crore from the State Government. It is being implemented through the World Bank-supported Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST Project).
Chief Minister Sarma said the centre will provide advanced radiation treatment that targets cancer cells while reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues. He noted the technology is beneficial for treating cancers of the brain, spine, eyes, head, neck, oesophagus, lung, liver, and breast.
Sarma stated the technology is particularly helpful for children to protect developing organs and reduce long-term complications. The centre will use the ProteusONE system, which is known for its compact design and precise delivery.
Under the agreement, medical personnel including doctors and technicians will receive specialised training from IBA and at international centres. The State Government has also approached Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, to assist with the training of medical staff.
The initiative is part of a larger network including the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, which is establishing 17 cancer hospitals across the state. Currently, 12 of these hospitals are functional, including the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati.