SHILLONG, April 25: Cancer patients and their families can now heave a sigh of relief, thanks to soon-to-be operational Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) at the NEIGRIHMS.
They will no longer have to run to hospitals outside the state for surgery, radiology and medical oncology as everything will be done under the roof of the RCC.
The construction of this massive seven-storey RCC building is almost completed. Only some minor works are left.
Some high-end medical equipment has already arrived. It is just a matter of some months before the RCC starts extending all its services. Currently, a patient can avail of OPD service.
Meghalaya desperately needed such a health facility. The state has a high prevalence of cancer but the facilities for treatment are limited. Those who can afford usually go to hospitals outside the state for treatment.
The RCC has OPDs, general wards, operation theatres and modern machines to detect the disease and treat patients.
NEIGRIHMS Director Dr Nalin Mehta said the project was delayed due to COVID situation and other factors. Some equipment came to the institute by sea and some more are on the way, he said.
“Things are on track. We hope to set and do everything by the end of May,” Dr Mehta said.
It was learnt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be requested to inaugurate the project. “We are the cancer capital so to say and this 252-bed facility is bound to make a huge impact. We are going to be the centre for cancer treatment in the Northeast,” he said.
The NEIGRIHMS has initiated the process of recruiting staff. Although it has nursing and technical staff, the RCC will require additional manpower. The services in the RCC will be made operational in a phase-wise manner.
A medical college, a nursing college and a guesthouse have also been constructed under the project.
