Assam signs pact for Rs 600 crore proton therapy centre in Guwahati
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the facility will provide advanced cancer treatment through the state's public healthcare system.
The Assam government signed a contract agreement with IBA Particle Therapy India Pvt Ltd on Saturday to establish a Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Guwahati, according to The Assam Tribune.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the project aims to provide advanced cancer treatment to local residents and reduce the necessity for patients to travel to other cities for specialised medical care.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 600 crore. Sarma said Rs 315 crore will be funded via a World Bank loan, with the Centre reimbursing 80 per cent of that amount, or approximately Rs 270 crore.
The Assam government will spend an additional Rs 285 crore on the initiative. Sarma noted that Rs 60 crore from the Assam Arogya Nidhi corpus, collected during the Covid-19 pandemic, will be redirected to the project.
The Chief Minister said proton therapy could protect sensitive organs like the spine and brain and could be especially helpful for children with cancer. He mentioned that such facilities in India are currently limited to Chennai and Mumbai.
The government intends to explore corporate social responsibility contributions during the three-year construction period. Sarma said the centre could attract patients from neighbouring countries and other states.