Odisha seeks branch of Tata Memorial Cancer Centre in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to set up a hub of India’s premier cancer research institute and hospital Tata Memorial Centre in Odisha capital.

“In view of the emerging role of Odisha in providing medical care, it would be helpful to have a hub of the Tata Memorial Centre in Odisha. This will be of invaluable service to the poor patients of Odisha as well as from our neighbouring states. I shall be grateful, if the Department of Atomic Energy could set up a hub of the Tata Memorial Centre at Bhubaneswar. We shall provide all necessary support from the state government for this purpose,” Naveen wrote.

He further added that Odisha has been receiving a good number of patients requiring various types of medical interventions, from our neighbouring states. Apart from a branch of AIIMS and hospitals of the state government, we now have good participation of private hospitals in and around Bhubaneswar. However, need for an advanced cancer hospital and research centre in the public sector is immensely felt to provide affordable care to the cancer patients.

“I understand that Department of Atomic Energy gives grant-in-aid and manages the Tata Memorial Centre. It is learnt that the Centre has been setting up its hubs at different locations like Sangrur, Visakhapatnam and Varanasi,” he added.