J P Nadda inaugurates Rs 39-crore radiotherapy facility at AIIMS Rajkot
The new centre aims to provide specialised cancer treatment to patients across the Saurashtra and Kutch regions.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda virtually inaugurated an advanced radiotherapy facility at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rajkot, on Monday. According to The Hawk, the centre was developed with a central government investment of approximately Rs 39 crore.
The facility is intended to serve a catchment population of 15.4 million across districts including Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Saurashtra, and Kutch. It aims to reduce the need for patients to travel to cities such as Ahmedabad or Mumbai for specialised oncology care.
The department is equipped with a high-energy Linear Accelerator, a wide-bore CT simulator, and a High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy unit. These tools allow for precision techniques including Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Image-Guided Radiotherapy, and stereotactic methods.
Nadda stated that cancer creates significant medical, social, and financial burdens for families. He noted that the facility would bring relief to those in the region who previously faced long travel distances for treatment.
Gujarat Minister of State for Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education Praful Pansheriya said the centre would assist rural and economically weaker families. He added that the government's priority is to ensure no family is deprived of cancer care due to financial constraints.
Eligible beneficiaries can access treatment free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), while others will receive subsidised care, according to The News Mill.