Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the government was establishing a state-of-the-art Cancer Care Centre (CCC) at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College (Dr. RKGMC), Hamirpur. He said that the Cancer Care Centre would house 11 new specialized departments to comprehensively address the needs of cancer patients. Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pain Palliation, Nuclear Medicine, Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Onco Pathology, Pediatric Oncology, Radiology Imaging, Gynae Oncology, Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation and Radiation Oncology departments would be created in this Centre and would provide specialized facilities to cancer patients.
He said that the establishment of the CCC would create a robust treatment system as the population faces a growing cancer risk. Various reports have highlighted the urgent need for systematic screening, prevention, monitoring, recording and timely intervention in cancer cases. This necessitates the development of seamless linkages from primary healthcare facilities to advanced tertiary-level cancer care institutions. With a strong focus on prevention, early detection and comprehensive patient support, the state government has proposed and initiated the establishment of a State Cancer Centre at Dr. RKGMC, Hamirpur and necessary steps in this direction have already been taken by the Department of Medical Education.
The Chief Minister said that the proposed State Cancer Institute at Hamirpur would comprise a multi-storey building with a capacity of 264 beds dedicated to cancer patients. The ground floor would house key facilities such as clinical laboratories, outpatient departments (OPDs), pharmacy, emergency ward, nuclear medicine OPD and registration services. To ensure the effective operationalization of the Cancer Institute, the Government would provide adequate and qualified medical, paramedical and support staff.
He said that since assuming office the government has taken several significant steps to revamp the healthcare system in the State. Outdated machines and equipment are being replaced with world-class facilities at par with AIIMS, Delhi. He Expressed concern over the fact that the state has one of the highest cancer incidence rates in the country after the North-Eastern States and to tackle it, establishing a high-end cancer hospital was of paramount importance for ensuring accessible and quality cancer care for the people.
