BBCI a central institute now on

GUWAHATI, Nov 27: Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati went gone down in history on Monday by becoming a central institute under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and a unit of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.

It is a follow-up of the decision of the Cabinet Committee under the Chairmanship Prime Minister rendra Modi. This landmark decision, it is expected, will pave the way for affordable cancer care comparable to premier cancer centres across the country.

Established in 1973, BBCI has been catering to the need of the entire north-eastern states. In view of high incidence of cancer and limited cancer treatment facilities in the region, development of BBCI is set to usher a ray of hope for cancer patients. 

The importance of BBCI becoming a Central institute can be gauged from the fact that around 45,000 new cancer patients are diagnosed every year in the region that has a population of 4.5 crore. According to statistics from BBCI, Assam alone contributes to around 35,000 new cancer patients a year. Cancer of esophagus, hypopharynx, and lung in men, and in women, cancers of breast, esophagus, uterine cervix, and gall bladder are very common, says the report of population-based cancer registry under Indian Council of Medical Research in Urban Kamrup region. Aizawl district of Mizoram has recorded the highest incidence of cancer, followed by Papumpare district in Arucahl Pradesh and East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, statistics received from BBCI say. 

A guest house for cancer patients, Jironi Ghar-II, was jointly iugurated by Dr. Rajendra A Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai and Mervin S Alexander, Joint Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. A free lunch scheme called Ankut for all outdoor patients coming to BBCI was iugurated in the Ankut Vihar under the auspices of Ram Gopal Harlalka in memory of his father Late M C Harlalka. A day care chemotherapy ward in memory of Late Dr. Rajendra Kumar Bhuyan, former Professor of Atomy, Gauhati Medical College, was iugurated under the auspices of Shrimati Putali Bhuyan and family from Sivasagar.  

Dr. Badwe complimented all the employees of BBCI for their hard work and dedication, and hoped that the institute under the Department of Atomic Energy, (DAE) Government of India and Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai will achieve newer heights to offer evidence based cancer care with state of the art facilities.  He also stated that within 4-6 months highly subsidized chemotherapy medicine will be made available to the patients.   The Joint Secretary, DAE, Alexander assured all possible support from the Government of India. He appreciated various academic courses conducted by the institute.  

Abhay Kumar, Deputy Secretary (Fince), DAE appealed to all the doctors and employees to offer cancer care with compassion and empathy, to make the lives of cancer patient meaningful. 

BBCI director Dr. Amal Chandra Kataki recollected the contribution made by the founder members of the institute. He appealed to the doctors to emulate the ideals of Lokabondhu Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah, who was a great physician and philanthropist of Assam.