Bhubaneswar: The state government Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Trusts, Mumbai, to set up a state-of-the-art Cancer Treatment and Research Hospital in the capital city with a view to provide high quality and affordable cancer care services in the state.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Tata Trusts chairman Ratan N Tata.
As part of the MoU, the Tata Trusts will set up and manage the Cancer Treatment and Research Hospital. On its part, the state government will provide land to the extent of 25 acres free of cost to sett up of the cancer care centre, which will be benchmarked to the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.
State government officials said that `800 crore has been earmarked for executing the cancer care project under the programme over a period of next five years. Of this, state government’s share will be `500 crore, while Tata Trusts has committed `300 crore.
Besides, the state government will also fund the operational expenses of all facilities established under the programme and will provide support for free treatment of poor and needy patients.
As per the MoU, the comprehensive care project will be set up through a three-tier network of facilities with the Tata Trusts’ proposed centre at Bhubaneswar and Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack as the apex centres.
The medical colleges in the state and the district hospitals will be equipped to offer diagnostics and standardised day care chemotherapy with selected district hospitals additionally offering radiotherapy services to create a state-wide cancer care network with an objective to take treatment closest to patients, Health Minister Pratap Jena said.
The Chief Minister said Tata Trusts has immense expertise in the field of cancer care and research and the comprehensive cancer care programme will certainly create the much need synergy.
Ratan Tata said that through this project Tatas will share their knowledge in cancer care to support the state’s efforts in providing high-end cancer treatment.
The state government also said it will set programme priorities through an advisory committee headed by the Chief Secretary. As per the pact, the advisory committee will recommend a Special Programme Management Entity for executing the proposed network of cancer care facilities. The Project Management Entity will have members both from the state government and the Tata Trusts.