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BBCI to provide dedicated treatments for Paediatric and Adult Haematolymphoid Cancers in North East under PM-DevINE Scheme

Dedicated Services for the Management of Paediatric and Adult Haematolymphoid Cancers will be established at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) in Guwahati at an approximate cost of Rs 129 crore

Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) was set up in Guwahati, Assam in the year 1974. The institute was set up, for the treatment of cancer patients in the Northeast, as a private hospital by a voluntary organization called ‘Dr B Borooah Cancer Society Trust’.

The data from the Population-Based Cancer Registry of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) quantifies that the prevalence of cancer in India is highest in the North-Eastern Region. The national average prevalence of cancer every year varies between 90 to 120 per lakh of the population. But in the North-eastern Region, this average is as high as 220 to 270 per lakh of the population. As per the report by the Indian Council of Medical Research, over 45,000 new cancer patients are detected in the North-eastern Region each year.

Owing to the need for cancer care in the Northeast, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) was set up in Guwahati, Assam in the year 1974. The institute was set up, for the treatment of cancer patients in the Northeast, as a private hospital by a voluntary organization called ‘Dr B Borooah Cancer Society Trust’. The Institute was recognized by the Government of India as a Regional Cancer Centre for Treatment and Research in 1980.

From November 1989 onwards, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) has secured the support of the Government of Assam, North-Eastern Council and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. In September of the year 2017, the BBCI Institute was handed over to the Department of Atomic Energy, under the administrative control of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai along with the existing personnel, assets and liabilities. As of today, around 14,000 new and 2,00,000 old cancer patients visit the institute every year for diagnosis, treatment, and checkups.

BBCI boasts of the ultra-modern facility for the treatment of common cancers of the citizens in North-East. However, the figures depict that the treatment facilities are very sparse in the region. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research report, 95 per cent of the patients from Sikkim, 58 per cent patients from Nagaland, 16 per cent from Manipur and 13 per cent patients from Meghalaya move out of the North-Eastern Region for cancer treatment.

Furthermore, some cancers like paediatric and adult Haematolymphoid (blood cancers) malignancies are among the most curable cancers which, if treated impeccably, the patients can survive to live a long and fruitful life. However, the expertise to treat these types of cancers is confined to only some specialized centres in the country. One of such specialized centres is the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai. The data hints that the formation of a dedicated paediatric oncology complex in the Northeast Region will generate human resources and expertise to take care of these cancers.

BBCI

The Union Budget 2022-23 had included a scheme called “Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East”, also known as PM-DevINE in short. The scheme will be implemented through the North-Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of the North-Eastern Region. The objective of the Scheme is to fund infrastructure projects, in the essence of PM GatiShakti scheme, as well as will support the social development projects conceptualized because of the needs felt of the North-East.

A commencing grant of Rs 1,500 crore was made for the PM-DevINE scheme for the year 2022-23. One of the major projects identified for undertaking during this period is the formation of dedicated services for the management of Paediatric and Adult Haematolymphoid Cancers in North-East India, which will be located at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) Guwahati at an approximate cost of Rs 129 crore. The initiative is expected to elevate cancer care in the region.

It should be noted that in the last 11 years, 3,855 childhood and adult Haematolymphoid cancer patients have reported to the BBCI for treatments. Furthermore, owing to the scarcity of proper facilities in the North-East, other than the BBCI, there may be many more patients who need the specialized care, but don’t get it close to their home and so are forced to travel to other specialized centres across the country.

It has been estimated that once the exclusively paediatric oncology department is set up, approximately 1,000 patients annually can be offered treatment for this group of ailments, which will significantly reduce the patient expenditure and immensely benefit the people of the North-Eastern Region.

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