Assam signs Rs 600 crore deal for state-run proton therapy centre
The facility in Guwahati will be India's first proton beam therapy centre established by a state government.
The Government of Assam signed an agreement with IBA Particle Therapy India Pvt. Ltd. to establish a Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Guwahati, according to the Economic Times. The deal 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, with Rs 315 crore provided by the World Bank and Rs 285 crore from the State Government. The centre will use the ProteusONE system to deliver precise radiation that targets tumours while protecting nearby healthy tissue.
Chief Minister Sarma stated that the technology is particularly beneficial for treating cancers of the brain, spine, eyes, head, neck, oesophagus, lung, liver, and breast. He noted that the treatment is especially significant for children to protect their developing organs and reduce long-term complications.
The facility will be implemented through the Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST Project). Under the agreement, IBA will provide specialised training to doctors, medical physicists, and technicians.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that the state has approached Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, to assist with the practical training of medical personnel. The project is expected to take a minimum of three years to set up.
Assam is currently establishing 17 cancer hospitals across the state, with 12 already functional. This includes the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati, which has been equipped with facilities for robotic surgery and bone marrow transplantation.