Jammu, Feb 03: State Cancer Institute at Jammu will start functioning from Saturday, but to start with, only OPD services for cancer patients of J&K will be available here for the time being.
“We are going to start only OPD services from tomorrow in the State Cancer Institute at Jammu,” the Principal, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu, Dr Shashi Sharma informed Rising Kashmir. “Other services will also be started soon,” he added.
Once it becomes fully functional, this State Cancer Institute will prove to be a boon for cancer patients as it is a full-fledged cancer hospital and institute where all medical facilities will be available for patients, he said. As of now, cancer patients have to go to GMC-Jammu for treatment.
Chemotherapy in the institute will be started in a week’s time for cancer patients, an official said, adding that the day-care chemotherapy will also be started soon in the larger interest of cancer patients.
The SCI has been set up at a cost of around Rs 120 crores and is a state-of-the-art institute with all ultra-modern facilities and equipment – right from diagnosis to treatment to physiotherapy.
Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar on January 31 reviewed the status of the institute and emphasised the officers for its early operationalisation.
The team of oncologists and experts in various fields from Homi Bhaba Research Centre Chandigarh led by Director, Dr Ashish Gulia, participated in the meeting along with other concerned officers.
The Department of Health and Medical Education has been collaborating with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, for providing technical guidance and support in making the SCI a state-of-the-art institute.
The department is looking forward to a continued association with the Tata Memorial Centre for the establishment and operationalisation of the State Cancer Institute Jammu with all services, enabling quality cancer patient care in the Union Territory.
