Prolonged wait for cancer patients in State
SHILLONG: Delays in completion of Government-funded project seems to have become the order of the day in Meghalaya. The latest project to suffer this fate is the upcoming Cancer Wing of the Shillong Civil Hospital which has been delayed by over 20 months but the work is still far from being complete.
The construction of the Department of Atomic Energy funded Cancer Wing at Shillong Civil Hospital started in March 2011 and the work was projected to be completed in two years’ time. However, 21 months later, the work is still going on and the project is far from complete.
The foundation stone of the Rs. 26-crore cancer wing was laid in March 2011 by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to provide a fillip to cancer patients in the State.
It may be mentioned that the project is being funded by the Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India.
It is learnt that the cancer wing, once completed, would be armed with the latest equipment for treatment of cancer. It is observed that the cancer wing is the need of the hour in Meghalaya especially in view of the large scale increase in the number of cancer patients in the State.
Once the cancer wing becomes operational, sophisticated equipment worth Rs. 15 crore would be purchased to provide better medical facilities to the patients.
Besides, a cobalt machine (used for radiation therapy) which is presently being used at the Civil Hospital would also be shifted to the cancer wing.
Once commissioned, the cancer wing is expected to provide great relief to cancer patients of the State, as well as those from other parts of the Northeastern region.
