Assam to set up India's first state-run proton therapy centre
The Guwahati facility will cost approximately Rs 600 crore and is being developed through a partnership with IBA Particle Therapy India.
The Government of Assam signed an agreement with IBA Particle Therapy India Pvt. Ltd. on October 31 to establish a Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Guwahati, according to The News Mill. The project, which marks India's first proton therapy facility established by a state government, will involve an investment of approximately Rs 600 crore.
The funding for the centre includes Rs 315 crore from the World Bank and Rs 285 crore from the state government. The initiative is being implemented through the Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST Project) under the Assam Health Infrastructure Development and Management Society.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the centre will use the ProteusONE system to provide precise treatment. He noted that the technology helps target cancer cells while reducing radiation to nearby healthy tissue, which is particularly beneficial for treating cancers of the brain, spine, eyes, head, neck, oesophagus, lung, liver and breast.
Sarma said the therapy is especially significant for children as it can protect developing organs like the heart and spine. He added that it may reduce the risk of long-term complications and secondary cancers later in life.
Under the agreement, medical staff including doctors and technicians will receive specialised training from IBA, with some selected for international training. The state government has also approached the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, to assist with early training to ensure the facility is fully staffed before it begins operations.