Odisha, Tata Trusts sign MoU to set up cancer hospital

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tata Trusts to set up a cancer treatment and research hospital here, a senior state government official said.nnThe MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Tata Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata here yesterday.nnAs part of the MoU, the Tata Trusts will set up and manage the state-of-the-art cancer treatment and research hospital in the state capital while the Odisha government will facilitate in setting up the centre by providing land to the extent of 25 acres, free of cost, the official said.nnThe cancer treatment facility at Bhubaneswar will be benchmarked to the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.nnSpeaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the state government has been taking pro-active measures towards improving cancer care in the state including infrastructure upgradation at the district hospitals for providing chemotherapy, free of cost.nnStating that Tata Trusts has immense expertise in the field of cancer care and research, Patnaik said the comprehensive cancer care programme in partnership with Tata Trusts would create the much needed synergy.nnThe Tata Trusts Chairman said cancer is a major thrust area and the Tatas would share their knowledge in cancer care to support the state’s efforts in high-end cancer treatment, he said.nnA sum of Rs 800 crore has been earmarked for executing the cancer care projects under the programme over the next five years. Of this, the state government’s share will be Rs 500 crore, while Tata Trusts have committed Rs 300 crore, an official statement said.nnThe Odisha government will also fund the operational expenses of all facilities established under the programme and support in full the free treatment of poor and needy patients, the statement said.nnThe comprehensive care programme, as per the MoU, will be set up through a three-tier network of facilities with the Tata Trustss proposed Centre at Bhubaneswar and Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack as apex centres.nnMedical colleges in the state and district hospitals will be equipped to offer diagnostics and standardised day care chemotherapy with select district hospitals additionally offering radiotherapy services, the official said.nnSource: Press Trust of India