Cancer institute ties up with Tata Memorial Hospital for academic programme
OUR BUREAU
Guwahati, April 27: The high incidence of cancer in Assam and other North Eastern States is a cause for concern. It is estimated that 36,221 new cancer cases are detected every year in the North Eastern States. The burden of cancer in the State of Assam is estimated to be 27,427. About 10,566 patients reported to Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute in the year 2014-15. In spite of high incidence of cancer, treatment facilities in the North Eastern States are limited. The State of Sikkim and Aruchal Pradesh at present does not have cancer treatment facilities. As per World Health Organization, one teletherapy machine is required per ten lakhs of population. As such, 45 machines are needed for the entire North Eastern States, where total population is 4, 57, 72,188 as per 2011 census. At present, there are only 15 teletherapy machines in the region, out of which Assam alone has 9 teletherapy machines. For 3.1 crore population of Assam, at least 30 such machines are necessary.
Similarly, there is acute shortage of trained doctors and paramedical staffs in the field of Oncology in the North Eastern Region. Keeping this in mind, Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) has started various academic courses in addition to short term training programme for doctors and paramedical staffs for last ten years. Currently, there are 63 students pursuing academic courses in various disciplines at BBCI. So far 43 students from various North Eastern States have completed Oncology related academic courses. These students have been absorbed in various medical institutions of the region. The Institute started MD course in Radiotherapy in 2013. Three years M.Sc in Radiological Physics was introduced in collaboration with Gauhati University in the year 2012. Two years Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Radiotherapy Technology and Radiotherapy Technician programme as well as MSc in Radiological Physics are recognized by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Govt. of India. It is heartening that the Ministry of DoNER, Govt. of India has also started short-term training for doctors and paramedical staffs at Adyar Cancer Institute, Cheni starting from this year.
To further cater to the need of the doctors, BBCI in collaboration with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai has introduced 2 years Post Graduate Oncology Fellowship in Head & Neck Oncology, General Surgical Oncology, Medical Oncology, Gyecologic Oncology and Onco-Patholoy from the year 2016. It is hoped that these courses will fulfill the manpower requirement of the North Eastern Region. Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute will render all possible help to the northeastern states for capacity development in Oncology.
It is expected that many Oncology Centres will come up in the North Eastern States in the coming few years and these academic programmes will give job opportunity to young aspirants in the field of Oncology.
