The Assam cabinet on Sunday approved purchase of a proton beam therapy unit for cancer treatment at a cost of ₹ 600 crore.
“Proton beam therapy is one of the most advanced form of treatments for cancer. “Assam will join an illustrious list of places where this advanced treatment will be available. World Bank will provide us a loan of ₹ 315 crore for this and state government would spend ₹ 285 crore,” he said.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that once the unit is set up at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Assam will be the first state in the country to have this facility in the public healthcare sector. Once this treatment starts, we are hopeful of not just treating patients in our state but also attract medical tourists,” said the CM.
Assam to Launch First Public Proton Beam Therapy Unit in India
Assam is set to become the first state in India to introduce a proton beam therapy unit in its public healthcare system. Currently, this advanced treatment option is only available in two private hospitals located in Mumbai and Chennai. According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as of now, there are approximately 40 proton beam therapy units worldwide. This technique utilizes proton beams for radiation therapy, offering more precision than traditional methods and significantly reducing the risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
