In a first for Northeast, VR therapy for cancer patients launched in Shillong

SHILLONG, April 8: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Northeast, Shillong’s DAE-Civil Hospital Cancer Wing has introduced Virtual Reality (VR)-Assisted Guided Imagery Therapy to help cancer patients cope with the emotional and physical distress of chemotherapy and radiation.
Launched on Thursday, the project is led by the State Cancer Society of Meghalaya in partnership with Ojaska Labs LLP and supported by SMRATA Trust. It aims to ease anxiety, pain and fatigue by immersing patients in calming, virtual environments during their treatment cycles.
The therapy uses VR headsets preloaded with guided imagery scripts in English, Khasi and Hindi. These sessions are designed to support patients before, during and after their treatment, helping them relax, manage side effects and find emotional comfort through the healing process.
Highlighting the objectives of the project, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare department, Sampath Kumar, expressed optimism and shared the vision behind the VR-Assisted Guided Imagery Study, mentioning its transformative potential for cancer care.
A detailed presentation was also given by Sarat Addanki, Chairman of SMRATA and OJASKA Labs, who explained the study framework, the role of guided imagery in reducing anxiety, and the deployment of VR headsets to provide immersive, calming environments for patients.
The project will run for 10 to 12 months in three phases—starting with staff training and infrastructure setup, followed by patient sessions and data collection, and finally, a detailed analysis of the impact on patient outcomes.
An MoU was also signed at the launch event, formalising the collaboration between the state health department, Ojaska Labs and SMRATA Trust, aiming to set new standards for digital therapeutics in cancer care.