Punjab govt sanctions Rs 300 crore for setting up cancer units

Punjab government has sanctioned Rs 300 crore for setting up cancer units in the state as part of a special drive to build ultra modern infrastructure for treatment of cancer patients in government hospitals.
"A sum of Rs 300 crore has been sanctioned by the state government for setting up cancer units in the three government hospitals at Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala," a government spokesman said here today.
The state government is setting up another cancer unit in civil hospital at Sangrur in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) Mumbai at a cost of Rs 5 crore, he said.
Besides creating infrastructure, the health department would soon recruit cancer specialists and the department is also in the process of identifying doctors and nurses who can be trained for assisting in cancer treatment, he said.

"The state government would utilise TMC's services in placing orders to purchase equipment required in radiotherapy units and laboratories.
"Specialists from TMC in Mumbai and PGI, Chandigarh have given their consent to train doctors and other staff to treat cancer patients, the spokesman said.
"The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India has given a go-ahead to construct radiotherapy bunkers at government hospitals to set up linear accelerators that will help in the treatment of patients suffering from cancer," he added.