AIIMS Rajkot gets ₹39-Crore Advanced Radiation Oncology Facility

Rajkot: The newly constructed Advanced Radiation Oncology Department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rajkot, has been virtually inaugurated at a cost of ₹39 crore.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda inaugurated the facility virtually. Gujarat Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Praful Pansheriya also attended the programme virtually.

Nadda said the state-of-the-art radiotherapy facility would prove to be a milestone in the treatment of cancer patients. He described the establishment of the radiation oncology department as an important step in strengthening healthcare infrastructure to tackle serious diseases such as cancer.

The facility will enable cancer patients to access advanced radiotherapy services with greater precision, safety and efficiency.

Nadda also noted that while establishing a major medical institution generally takes around 10 years, AIIMS Rajkot had developed several medical facilities within just three years despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The institute currently offers 14 broad speciality and six super-speciality services.

The new department is expected to significantly benefit patients from Rajkot, Saurashtra, Kutch and neighbouring areas. Its primary objective is to make advanced cancer treatment available closer to patients’ homes, reducing the need to travel to major cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Pune.

The availability of modern radiotherapy infrastructure at AIIMS Rajkot is also expected to reduce travel time and the financial burden on patients and their families while improving access to specialised cancer care in the region.

Nadda in a tweet stated: ‘As a significant step towards strengthening advanced cancer care, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation the Advanced Radiotherapy Facility at AIIMS, Rajkot today. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and equipment, the facility will bring precise, safe and quality cancer treatment closer to people of entire Saurashtra region, reducing the need for patients to travel to major cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai for specialised care. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, Government is committed to strengthening primary healthcare with strong linkage with secondary care and expanding tertiary healthcare to ensure accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for every citizen.’ DeshGujarat