The public sector Oil and Natural Gas Coroporation (ONGC) has extended a support of Rs 100 crore to turn the vision of affordable world class cancer care facilities in Central India into reality.
The first phase of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Nagpur, Maharashtra, was inaugurated on August 13 in the august presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Piyush Goel, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Trust.
The NCI is a unique CSR initiative that would provide world class oncology treatment facilities at affordable rates to the general public of Central India. The institute will have state of the art facilities for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancers. Being the medical hub of central India, Nagpur has been selected to set up the NCI. The NCI will be 455 bedded quaternary care oncology center. The project is slated for completion in 2018.
The ONGC has extended support to the project through its CSR Trust - ONGC Foundation. Dr. Aabaji Thatte Seva Aur Anusandhan Sanstha is the implementing partner for the project. An agreement was signed between ONGC Foundation and Dr. Aabaji Thatte Seva Aur Anusandhan Sanstha on May 22, 2017.
The total cost of the project is Rs 565.20 crore. Out of ONGC's support of Rs 100 crore, Rs 50 crore shall be used for procurement of medical equipment for radio diagnostic facilities (like MRI, Citi scan, ultrasound, Mammography, X-ray and Bone Marrow Densito meter) to be set up on the ground floor of the institute. The balance Rs 50 crore shall be used for construction of first floor, having the OPD chambers, and the second floor having economy ward. ONGC has released a sum of Rs 30 crore as 1st instalment towards the project.
Addressing the gathering, Pradhan said that the institute will be one of the most modern and largest of its kind and provide quality cancer care at affordable cost.
Goyal said, "I'm sure the National Cancer Institute will get world-class fame and serve the people of Nagpur and Vidarbha belt".
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Fadnavis said that the mission and thought behind this institute is to make available the best treatment in the world at lowest cost to help masses.
The center will provide comprehensive cancer treatment, patient care and research through sustainable charity. In addition to providing general cancer care, the institute will also create specialty groups of highly skilled professionals who will be master in treatment of select group of cancers. The institute also plans to start University recognized training courses for nurses, paramedical staff and medical fraternity including super specialty training in Oncology and PhD programs.
The primary beneficiaries of the project will be Cancer patients belonging to Central India referred by Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and Cancer patients identified by the NGOs & local physicians in the 500 km radius of Nagpur. 1st phase facilities shall help about 1500 - 2000 cancer patients per month.
Maharashtra's Minister of Medical Education and Water Resources,Girish D. Mahajan, and Minister for Energy, New & Renewable Energy & Guardian Minister of Nagpur District, Chandrashekhar Krishnarao Bawankule, dignitaries from the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, chief executive officers and managing directors of various corporates and D D Misra, Director (Human Resources), ONGC, also graced the event.
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