New cancer hospital aims to bring affordable care to region

Nagpur: Cancer patients of Central India will not need to travel Mumbai or other metro cities for affordable treatment soon. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) will be opening with out patient department (OPD) along with two radiation oncology centres at its upcoming 500-bed hospital at Jamtha around October this year. The project will begin in phases and be ready completely in the first quarter of 2018.At NCI, patients are likely to get medical facilities at much cheaper rates than Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre.
NCI will also conduct university recognized training for nurses, paramedical staff and medical fraternity including super-speciality training in oncology and PhD programmes.
Shailesh Joglekar, secretary of Dr Aabaji Thatte Seva Aur Anusandhan Sanstha that is developing NCI, said, “Most cancer patients in the region are diagnosed late and mostly in incurable stage. This is mainly because a wide gap exists in the options for cancer treatment in Central India. Between Mumbai and Calcutta, there is no major cancer facility. NCI will fill this gap.”
He told TOI that project would come up at a cost of Rs250-275 crore. “NCI’s building with built-up area of 8.78 lakh sq ft will be green building and we hopeful to obtain gold rating. We will also try for platinum rating and get recognized from Indian Green Building Council,” he said. It will also be the first institute in Central India to be accredited by NABH National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare providers (NABH) and Joint Commission International (JCI).
“Many patients cannot meet the cost of treatment, accommodation and commuting. Hence, we started with integrated palliative care centre at Dharampeth in 2012. Around 2,500 patients across Vidarbha and other parts of Central India benefited from it. It will continue as IPD when OPD begins at new premises. Then it will be shifted once the project is completed,” Joglekar said.
“Cancer patients have a months-long wait list at RST Cancer Institute’s oncology radiation centre. Therefore, the plan is to open two centres along with OPD soon. First. two of four centres will be opened.”
A 250-bed residential complex with an area of 60,000 sq ft will be also constructed on the campus to accommodate relatives of the patients.
Joglekar said that he, along with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, had been nursing a vision of the institute since 22 years. “We had been trying to get funds for it. It is coming to fruition now.” The wheels started turning about two years ago when the Trust finalized the location of the institute. NCI’s bhoomipuja was performed on February 28, 2015, and since then, construction work is going on at rapid speed. The Trust’s medical director Dr Anand Pathak also played a key role, Joglekar added.
NCI’s Salient Features
* Mobile cancer diagnostic unit with even OT facility for camps
* Healing garden along with plantation of healing plants and trees in premises
* Hospital structure of G+6 floors and parking on remaining premises
* Imaging centres, blood bank, pathology and nuclear medicine department to be on ground floor
* General ward for IPD patients on second floor
* Surgical floor on third with all types of units with 76 beds
* Imaging centre in middle of operation theatres for performing tests and obtaining reports in operation theatres itself
* Fourth floor for services while IPD rooms on fifth floor
* Bone marrow transplant unit on entire sixth floor